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CASE STUDY M6 Toll Motorway Staffordshire Staffordshire Staffordshire Staffordshire Reinforced Earth TerraClass® Bridge Abutments Client: Midland Expressway Ltd Consultant: Arup Atkins JV Contractor: CAMBBA Construction: 2004 System: TerraClass® Wall Area: 23000m² Max. Height 11m Design Load: HB Design Life: 120 years Background Background Background Background The M6 Toll road involved building a completely new 27 mile, 3-lane motorway to the north east of Birmingham between junctions 4 and 11 of the M6. It is the first tolled motorway built and operated by the private sector in the UK, and aims to be a reliable alternative to the heavily congested M6 and also act as a regional distributor route to various developments in the area. Challenge Challenge Challenge Challenge The Reinforced Earth Company (RECo) undertook the design and supply of 39 permanent bridge abutments and several retaining walls along the route. The use of Reinforced Earth™ for abutments supporting full bridge loads has become widespread over more traditional techniques as it reduces the need for piles or foundation improvements thus lowering costs and saving on programme time. Solution Solution Solution Solution CAMBBA (Carillion, Alfred MacAlpine, Balfour Beatty & Amec), chose Reinforced Earth™ for it’s speed of construction and RECo for their ability supply of materials for such a large scheme. In total, RECo supplied 23,000 m² of TerraClass™ concete facing panels and over half a million metres of galvanized steel reinforcing strips for the project. Because of the scale and speed at which design approval and construction was required, the Reinforced Earth Company drew upon their international resources to meet the requirements of the tight programme. 6 Hollinswood Court - Stafford Park 1 – Telford - TF3 3DE Tel. 01952 201901 - Fax. 01952 201753 www.reinforcedearth.co.uk
