National Highways has completed its £65m A11 concrete reconstruction scheme at Wymondham, upgrading close to 10 miles of dual carriageway to asphalt.
The scheme on the stretch of A11 between Spooner Row and Tuttles Interchange saw the removal of the old concrete road surface and some of its foundations, before rebuilding with recycled material and a new asphalt top.
National Highways said removing 60,000 cubic metres of concrete from the carriageway and recycling it into the new road was one of a number of innovations it used to reduce CO2 emissions during construction.
These also included powering the scheme’s average speed cameras with renewable energy and the exploratory use of kinetic floor tiles in the site compound that generate electricity when walked over.
Roads minister Richard Holden claimed that the £65m upgrade would ‘grow the economy in the region’.
Simon Amor, National Highways head of scheme delivery (East), said: ‘The upgraded road not only showcases the power of collaboration and cutting-edge concrete technology, but also promises enhanced safety, reduced maintenance needs, and a smoother travel experience for all road users.’
National Highways said that over the past 16 months it had:
- removed and recycled 60,000 cubic metres of concrete, 'which is enough to fill 24 Olympic-sized swimming pools'
- laid 147,000 tonnes of new asphalt, ‘the equivalent weight of 786 Boeing 747 planes’
- installed 27,000 metres of new drainage
- put in place 13,000 metres of new safety barrier
- painted 41,000 metres of road marking and laid 3,600 road studs
- installed 60 new traffic signs
At the halfway point of the scheme in January, the company said the 30,000 cubic metres of concrete removed, ‘could fill 15 Olympic-sized swimming pools’.
The project was part of National Highways’ £400m drive to 'revitalise' concrete roads, which make up more than 400 lane miles (4.6%) of its network and are mostly found along the eastern side of the country.
Around half of the old-style concrete roads in the East will either be repaired or replaced.
