M1 Junctions 28-35 upgrade

Technology-based solutions are ensuring that motorways and other major roads can manage ever-increasing volumes. New technologies are enabling us to upgrade our existing infrastructure and Costain is leading the design and delivery on many of the UK’s motorway upgrades. The recent acquisition of SSL has further enhanced Costain’s technology offering.

The M1 is one of the UK’s major road arteries but road users suffer from excessive traffic levels, congestion and ultimately delays. Costain has been working to transform junctions 28-35 by increasing its capacity, reducing congestion and improving safety. This is achieved by converting the hard shoulder into a running lane, using innovative technology automatically to identify congestion and maintain traffic flows using variable speed limits, ensuring roads are run as efficiently as possible.

Costain carried out the work on the 20-mile section of Highways England’s motorway upgrade scheme between Junction 28 near Mansfield and Junction 31 near Worksop - the longest ALR (All Lane Running) scheme delivered to date. The scheme went fully live on 31 March, improving journeys for the 95,000 drivers who use this stretch of motorway every day.

The Costain team minimised disruption and created a safe working environment with temporary narrow lanes and a 50mph speed limit that kept all three lanes open to traffic in each direction. They also trialled new ways to improve the customer experience through the roadworks and introduced innovations such as new techniques for cross-carriageway ducts and drainage attenuation. The team also implemented a temporary building management system that reduced energy consumption.

The project has also been a high achieving Skills Academy (National Skills Academy for Construction), consistently meeting and beating its targets. Successes included several placements from The Prince’s Trust Get into Construction scheme, Construction Ambassador training, the recruitment of apprentices and the completion of more than 10,000 hours of training.