Octavius has been awarded a reconstruction and resurfacing scheme divided across four locations on the Cambridge County Council highways network.

The works include improvements at Church Road, Leverington, A10 Lynn Road Littleport, B1100 Padgetts Road Christchurch and Benrick Road, Whittlesey.

Highways Framework Manager Jon Millar commented: “This is the fourth Fen RoadsReconstruction Package Octavius will complete for Cambridgeshire CC through the EHA Framework. Our proposed solutions and methodologies are founded upon the success and lessons learned on our previous projects.”

The company says the Fens pose a “unique challenge” to highway resilience and longevity due to the underlying peat. The peat layer causes heave and settlement depending upon its water content / groundwater, so can behave like a big sponge. This can cause undulating road conditions and pose significant safety issues for motorist and highway users.

To alleviate these risks Cambridge CC have a targeted programme of road improvement around the county. Through this experience Cambridge CC have developed a full recycling, reuse and processing solution for the road planings arising from the reconstruction.

These are used to provide a flexible subbase that incorporates a strengthening geogrid, providing a robust and resilient substructure onto which the final surface courses can be applied.

“This ensures that many miles of Cambridge CC highways can be repaired at the most efficient cost possible,” Mr Millar added. “Octavius are dedicated to continuous improvement, and I am certain with the adoption and application of our LEAN techniques we will continue to contribute to Cambridge CC challenge to get more miles repaired per pound spent.“

(File picture – Greater Cambridge Partnership)