Tarmac make quick work of A580 upgrade

Two-week resurfacing scheme for Wigan Council on East Lancs Road completed in just four nights 

WIGAN Council and Tarmac have successfully completed major improvements to the busy A580 East Lancashire Road in record time, significantly reducing disruption for local motorists.

Originally scheduled to last for up to two weeks, the teams worked together to complete a comprehensive resurfacing of a 5km eastbound stretch of the A580 dual carriageway in just four nights, substantially reducing the amount of road closures required.

The higher quality of the new, more durable surface has been designed to ‘future-proof’ the road and minimize expenditure on maintenance in the long-term.

Approximately 29,000 sq metres of road surface was upgraded over the four nights, with the project team’s efficiency and meticulous planning meaning they were able to lay approximately 50% more material than was forecasted in the scheme’s original schedule and improve more of the critical route.

The increased output was achieved by using an innovative new cold-milling machine from Tarmac road-planing contractors NRP. One of only eight in Europe, the machine is fitted with a 3.8m wide drum, which can remove one whole lane width in a single pass.

Mike McAndrew, general manager at Tarmac, said: ‘It has been really rewarding to work collaboratively with the highways teams at Wigan Council on this project. This is a great example of highways expertise and the latest innovative technologies combining to significantly minimize disruption for local road users.’

The team at Tarmac reviewed and refined the programme each shift, meaning that they were able to maximize productivity. For example, efficiency was increased by using delivery lorries to remove the planed-out material from site and transport it to a Tarmac asphalt plant for recycling and future use.

Councillor Carl Sweeney, cabinet member for environment at Wigan Council, said: ‘It’s great news for residents that the work was completed quickly and efficiently. The highways network is the backbone of Wigan Borough’s economy and we recognize the importance of maintaining its infrastructure to a high standard.’

Also known as the East Lancs Road, the A580 is one of the county’s busiest and most important local corridors linking Liverpool and Manchester.