Project Description
The A14 is a strategic trunk road that runs between the M1 Catthorpe Interchange and Felixstowe. It is a dual carriageway for most of its route and carries up to 85,000 vehicles per day, many of which are HGVs heading to the Port of Felixstowe. Volumes of traffic are now much greater than were anticipated by the original design.
The stretch between Cambridge and Huntingdon is especially prone to peak time delays and has a poor safety record. Highways England, along with the A14 Integrated Delivery Team, are upgrading the carriageway to improve safety, improve air quality and unlock development potential in the area. Some of the scheme involves on-line improvement works and other areas are completely off-line constructions.
The Challenge
The project involved the construction of a number of structures that were on the key timeline of the project. Many of these structures were of a considerable size and required structural drainage that could be rapidly and safely installed. Traditional methods such as porous blocks were deemed to be too slow to construct and posed a high risk of damaging the waterproofing when being manoeuvred into place. Manual handling equipment is required to install these traditional systems and construction output is typically low. Furthermore, due to their size and weight, moving materials around site posed significant logistical problems. Other options considered, such as no fines concrete, required formwork and were expensive to place. Often additional earthworks operations are required further slowing scheme progression.
The Solution
The Contractor recognised the successful use of ABG Deckdrain drainage geocomposite on previous schemes and proposed its use to the consultant and Highways England. On this project the high strength Deckdrain 750S/NW8 and Deckdrain 1250S/NW8 were chosen to withstand anticipated passive earth pressure movement. Deckdrain allowed for safer installation compared to porous blocks since there is no need for heavy machinery due to it’s lightweight and easy to handle properties. This in turn reduced installation time, labour costs and vehicle movement on site.
ABG Deckdrain cost saving geocomposite for vertical wall drainage
The ABG Service
ABG provided technical support to aid product selection and gain approval from Highways England. ABG and the A14 Integrated Delivery Team entered the Deckdrain concept and were shortlisted for the Sustainability Category at the 2019 Construction News Awards.
