Contractor 1146 Balfour Beatty is to construct new truck parking facilities alongside the M20 motorway in Kent in the UK. The package of works was awarded by 8100 Highways England and the £130 million deal covers the development of the proposals during the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase of the project. This deal also includes the construction of the lorry area subject to a decision to proceed from the UK Government. The £250 million truck parking area was initially announced by the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer in Autumn 2015 and is intended to relieve congestion caused by trucks queueing to use the Channel crossings.
Balfour Beatty says that it will use its technological expertise across the project including the latest Building Information Modelling techniques. This will avoid programme and utility clashes, improve the works sequence and optimise the design of the structures while reducing construction time on site and cost, as well as optimising site safety.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group chief executive, said: “Balfour Beatty’s expertise in major infrastructure projects and long standing relationship with Highways England will be crucial for the safe and successful delivery of this project. The M20 lorry area will provide much needed relief to Kent’s road networks while supporting local economic growth and development”.
At peak construction, the project could employ up to 150 construction workers and is anticipated to be partially open by the summer of 2017.
The early award of the contract will minimise potential delays to the work starting on site once the location is finalised and a decision to proceed is made.
The lorry area will accommodate approximately 3,600 trucks at capacity, providing relief to the Kent road network when services across the English Channel are disrupted and HGVs are unable to travel to the continent. With the number of goods vehicles crossing from Kent forecasted to double by the mid-2020s, the parking area will provide a much needed, long term solution to Operation Stack, the emergency procedure with HGVs queueing on parts of the M20 when unable to cross to the continent.
Balfour Beatty says that it will use its technological expertise across the project including the latest Building Information Modelling techniques. This will avoid programme and utility clashes, improve the works sequence and optimise the design of the structures while reducing construction time on site and cost, as well as optimising site safety.
Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group chief executive, said: “Balfour Beatty’s expertise in major infrastructure projects and long standing relationship with Highways England will be crucial for the safe and successful delivery of this project. The M20 lorry area will provide much needed relief to Kent’s road networks while supporting local economic growth and development”.
At peak construction, the project could employ up to 150 construction workers and is anticipated to be partially open by the summer of 2017.
The early award of the contract will minimise potential delays to the work starting on site once the location is finalised and a decision to proceed is made.
The lorry area will accommodate approximately 3,600 trucks at capacity, providing relief to the Kent road network when services across the English Channel are disrupted and HGVs are unable to travel to the continent. With the number of goods vehicles crossing from Kent forecasted to double by the mid-2020s, the parking area will provide a much needed, long term solution to Operation Stack, the emergency procedure with HGVs queueing on parts of the M20 when unable to cross to the continent.
