Project overview
Associated Asphalt was appointed by National Highways to deliver a major resurfacing scheme at Fleet Services on the M3, involving the surface inlay of both the northbound and southbound carriageways under full closures.
The project challenged conventional delivery by significantly compressing the design and construction programme, requiring close collaboration between Associated Asphalt, National Highways and Jacobs to maximise efficiency and minimise disruption to road users and local stakeholders.
The challenge
National Highways set a clear objective to reduce both the overall programme and the number of required closures, limiting revenue loss at Fleet Services and reducing the impact of diversions on the surrounding network.
The initial programme of 40 shifts needed to be reduced to 20, while still delivering high quality surfacing across both carriageways within restricted working windows.
Our approach
Associated Asphalt worked collaboratively with National Highways and Jacobs from the outset to agree a delivery strategy capable of achieving the reduced programme. Resources were doubled where required to maintain productivity, and works were carefully sequenced to ensure consistent progress across each closure.
Strong site leadership and coordination allowed the team to operate safely and efficiently under full carriageway closures, maintaining programme certainty throughout the works.
Scope of works
The scheme focused on the resurfacing of both carriageways at Fleet Services.
- Surface inlay of approximately 10,000 tonnes of asphalt
- Resurfacing of both northbound and southbound carriageways
- Traffic management delivered under full carriageway closures
Value engineering and innovation
The project marked the first use of echelon paving within Areas 3 and 4. Two pavers operated side by side to lay adjacent lanes simultaneously, creating a hot matched longitudinal joint and improving long term pavement performance.
This approach delivered multiple benefits:
- Reduced programme duration by enabling simultaneous lane laying
- Improved surface durability, exceeding the typical seven year lifespan of surface courses
- Enhanced value for money through reduced future maintenance requirements
Enhanced Mobile Carriageway Closure was also trialled on the scheme, allowing traffic to be stopped and traffic management installed at a consistent time each night. This reduced downtime at the start of each shift and contributed to the overall reduction in closures required. The trial marked the first use of this approach outside the M25.
Sustainability and environmental considerations
Environmental impacts were reduced through forward planning and close collaboration with suppliers. Aggregates were transported by rail from Wales to the asphalt plant at Heathrow, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to road haulage.
One hundred percent of planings removed from site were returned to Heidelberg Materials for recycling back into the asphalt production cycle, supporting circular economy principles and reducing waste.
The outcome
The M3 Fleet Services scheme was delivered within the reduced programme, achieving National Highways’ objectives for efficiency, quality and minimised disruption. The project demonstrates Associated Asphalt’s ability to combine innovation, collaboration and disciplined delivery to achieve accelerated programmes while maintaining high standards of safety and performance.