A £2m slope and ground stabilisation project now entered its 20th month as part of the A465 trunk road dualling scheme in South Wales
The scheme is the Welsh Government’s most extensive ongoing infrastructure development. Quantum Geotechnic and Spencer ECA, who are part of the RSK Group, are working together to deliver the project.
“The teams have done, and continue to do, an excellent job in executing this project, making use of a combination of in-house heavy plant supplied by Spencer ECA and Quantum’s soil nailing and rock bolting drilling masts,” said Ross McDermott, managing director at Spencer Quantum.
“The soil nailing works are set to continue late into 2023. What started out as a six-week initial project has evolved into an ongoing one for more than 18 months, delivering works across the length and breadth of the site, which is a testament to the relationship our teams have forged with the client,” he continued.
The A465 is set to be opened soon
Post-site work monitoring will finish next month, funded by the Welsh Government’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, with support from the European Agricultural Fund.
Quantum Geotechnical completed an extensive project involving 435 boreholes, 128 trial pits, in situ testing, geophysical surveys, and the installation of ground gas and groundwater monitoring wells as part of the ground stabilisation project.
The project focused on land and environmental protection
Spencer ECA focused on land management and environmental services, while Quantum Geotechnical took care of geotechnical contracting and consultancy.
“Spencer ECA led on the vegetation clearance, constructing a network of roadways including temporary SignaRoad installations, and established a secure works compound in an extremely rural setting using all in-house plant and multi-skilled operatives, commented McDermott.
“Quantum Geotechnic was then able to proceed and undertake the investigation, with Spencer ECA providing the necessary plant and specialist operatives throughout the project,” he added.
The new road will be a 70mph dual carriageway featuring six junctions, with slip roads facilitating access to and from the A465 carriageway. The project will extend between Hirwaun and Dowlais Top for 11 miles. The development will leave the A465 between the Hirwaun and Trewaun junctions for about a mile between the Taf Fechan Viaduct and the Gurnos Farm underpass.
