Surrey County Council has been recognised at the Ground Engineering Awards for innovative highways works on the A323.
Highways Officers and contractors Ringway worked with engineering company Geobear to develop a solution to stabilise the deep clay soil beneath a section of the road. This first-of-its-kind application of Geobear’s injected geopolymer treatment in the UK, successfully stabilised the challenging clay soil beneath this major road, minimising the typical disruptions associated with extensive excavation.
The project was completed in just two weeks, significantly reducing the duration and impact of roadworks on local residents and businesses, including a nearby school.
This method also dramatically reduced CO2 emissions by at least 62% compared to using more traditional methods.
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council said, “I’m delighted that our work has been recognised and we have picked up this nationally recognised award. This is testament to the partnership working our highways engineering team put in place with Ringway and Geobear, to drive this important project forward.
“We’re very proud of the efficiency of this project which significantly minimised disruption to members of the public and with its focus on safety and sustainability, set a new standard in the field.
“We’re working hard to improve all of Surrey’s roads and pavements. This includes investing £2 million in line painting to improve the safety and appearance of many roads across our highway network, and our biggest ever surface dressing programme which will significantly strengthen 85 miles of the county’s busiest roads, preventing deterioration in years to come.”
The ‘UK Project with a Geotechnical Value of up to £500K’ award is described as a ‘ground engineering scheme (as a standalone project or part of a larger development) with a contract value of less than £500K that stands out in terms of its credentials in innovation, quality, sustainability, health and safety and value engineering’.
(Picture – Surrey County Council)
