Kier was the lead contractor for this high profile Highways England project, with Tripod Crest brought in by its client Aggregate Industries.

Spaghetti Junction and the M6 celebrated their 45^th anniversaries this year – and the M6 now shoulders 200,000 journeys every day! This scheme involved closing much of Spaghetti Junction over seven consecutive weekends, from 14^th July onwards, for planing, resurfacing, bridge joint and bridge deck repairs – starting at 8pm every Friday and finishing by 6am on Monday mornings. Keeping to the schedule was critical as the work needed to be ready for the end of the holiday period and the schools going back on Monday, 4^th September.

Tripod Crest’s main involvement was planing, providing 2.0m planing machines, a 350 planer, an on-site fitter and back-up machines prepared for emergency contingencies.  Additionally, a standby response team was provided – including a 2.0m planer, low loader, tippers and sweepers to allow for a one hour 24/7 on call emergency response for the Area 9 network.

Tim Boardman, Kier’s Construction Team Leader, was very complimentary to Aggregate Industries’ Stuart Podmore about all parties: “This scheme has been a significant challenge to all of us and you have all played your part in that success.  In short without your contribution and support it would not have happened but you all rose to the challenge and we collaboratively met it head on, succeeding in that challenge.”

Tripod Crest Supervisor Nigel Summers was there throughout and very much enjoyed his involvement: “We strive to be known as a trustworthy and reliable partner so it was fantastic to get this feedback. It really was a great team effort. Everything was planned very, very precisely because we absolutely had to keep to schedule. It was a challenge, but really rewarding. Across the project, there were around 100 people involved at any one time – so total collaboration was critical.”