A two million pound slope and ground stabilisation project has entered its 20th month as part of the largest ongoing infrastructure project for the Welsh Government – the A465 trunk road dualling scheme in South Wales.
Quantum Geotechnic and Spencer ECA, part of the RSK Group, are delivering the project.
Spencer Quantum Managing Director Ross McDermott said: “The teams have done, and continue to do, an excellent job in executing this project, making use of a combination of in-house heavy plant supplied by Spencer ECA and Quantum’s soil nailing and rock bolting drilling masts. The soil nailing works are set to continue late into 2023. What started out as a six-week initial project has evolved into an ongoing one for more than 18 months, delivering works across the length and breadth of the site, which is testament to the relationship our teams have forged with the client, having built a mutual trust, and demonstrates our reliability, versatility and adaptability in a challenging environment.
“The effectiveness and efficiencies realised during the early stages of this project alone set in motion, and indeed led to the acceleration of, the long-term vision held by Spencer Group to merge Spencer ECA and Quantum Geotechnic into a single entity, Spencer Quantum, to embody the benefits that this will bring to current and future clients.”
Quantum Geotechnic also completed a ground investigation project for Torfaen County Borough Council in South Wales earlier this year.
Mr McDermott said: “This 15-week, £1.57 million project has involved a vast historical iron and coal mine and an on-site coal tip called ‘The British’. In consideration of the complex underground mine drainage system, this ground investigation was designed to assist in mapping this mine network and to ultimately contribute to the design of mine drainage improvements.”
He added that, before the company could start work, attention had to be focused on considerable dense vegetation clearance, tree felling and the creation of roadway access to enable the team to move ground investigation equipment onto the site, with due consideration given to all ecological sensitivities and constraints.
“Spencer ECA led on the vegetation clearance, constructing a network of roadways including temporary SignaRoad installations, and established a secure works compound in an extremely rural setting using all in-house plant and multi-skilled operatives. Quantum Geotechnic was then able to proceed and undertake the investigation, with Spencer ECA providing the necessary plant and specialist operatives throughout the project.”
Quantum Geotechnic delivered 435 boreholes to depths of up to 50 m, 128 trial pits and trenches, with in situ testing, sampling, geophysical surveys and the installation of numerous ground gas and groundwater monitoring wells.
The ongoing post-sitework monitoring of ground gas and groundwater borehole installations comes to an end next month and officially completes the project.
This phase of work received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
(Picture – RSK)
