M6 scheme collects prestigious accolade

The River Dane bridge, which carries the M6 over the water between junctions 18 and 19 towards Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, is more than 60 years old.

National Highways embarked on a major upgrade to strengthen the supporting piers by replacing the concrete with hard-wearing materials. Hydro-demolition also allowed engineers to carry out phased repairs.

The successful scheme has been honoured with the Project of the Year gong at the 2023 Concrete Repairs Association Awards. In a glittering ceremony held in Liverpool, the scheme was praised for an innovative approach which saw the work divided into phases. This reduced costs and was better for the environment.    

Mangat Bansal, Programme Delivery Manager,at National Highways said:

“The team’s unwavering dedication was nothing short of outstanding. Road safety was always at the forefront of their role, but they also ensured that local communities were actively involved, every step of the way.

“A huge well done to everyone involved in making this project a success which has culminated in a well-deserved award.”

National Highways worked closely with Concrete Repairs Limited to design and develop plans for the major repairs and future-proofing of the bridge.

Thousands of road users travel on the route daily, so keeping the structure operational during the works was important. This ensured that there was minimal disruption to commuters.

The project team actively engaged with local communities and hosted a site tour for 30 engineering students from Liverpool John Moores University, which led to a six-week placement opportunity. National Highways also partnered with Friends of the Dane Meadow volunteer group, the Environment Agency and the Fishing Federation.

Environmental responsibility was a key focus throughout the project. Effective waste management diverted 98.99% of waste from landfill.

For more information on this project and other National Highways initiatives in the North-West region, please visit our webpage at: 

www.nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/north-west

To stay updated on project developments, follow us on:

X (formerly Twitter) at @HighwaysNWEST