Civil engineering contractor Kilkern is to undertake a programme of excavation works on a section of the M6, junction 21a to junction 26, motorway upgrade on behalf of Costain .
A series of launch and reception pits in the motorway’s verges to prepare for the directional drilling of underground electrical service duct routes. This work is part of National Highways’ suspended smart motorway programme, converting hard shoulder to all-lane running and putting in vehicle detection technology and variable message boards.
Each launch and reception shaft will be between two and five metres deep and 12 metres square, together with suitable access ramps for the plant to set up at the correct drilling levels.
Chris Wright, Kilkern civil engineering director said that work was planned in order to minimise disruption to the many concurrent site activities on the project. Working closely with Costain on elements of the motorway upgrade programme to ensure that we reduce the impact of works on road users. The six month programme will be carried out mainly at night to ensure traffice flows are uninterupted at peak periods.
Completion for this phase is planned for October 2022.