Minster Group paves way for new Lincolnshire footpath with recycled concrete from Pelham Bridge
Pelham Bridge – an iconic part of Lincoln’s road infrastructure since it was opened by the Queen in 1958 – underwent major essential repair and maintenance works this summer. This work involved cutting expansion joints into the bridge and the resurfacing of the road and footpath as well as the installation of additional safety barriers.
To be able to carry out waterproofing works, the bridge had to be shut and ripped back down to the deck so it could be built back up again. Road surfacing and civil engineering specialists, Minster Group, was appointed by Balfour Beatty to remove the old curbs, flagstones and concrete products for recycling.
Minster Group crushed and screened the material at its Lincolnshire highways hub to create a type one material – the final layer of stone needed underneath tarmac. This type one material was then used as part of the base for a new Lincolnshire foot and cycle path replacement scheme.
Recycling old concrete to improve Lincolnshire’s road infrastructure
Following the production of recycled type one material from Pelham Bridge, Minster Group utilised the materials to complete a new 2km footpath project for the Lincolnshire County Council.
The shared-use foot and cycle path which links Lincolnshire villages, Billinghay and Walcott, was no longer wide enough to accommodate modern use. As the original footpath was very worn, the local authority actioned the installation of a new footpath to provide a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists between the villages. Minster Group was awarded the work by Balfour Beatty as a trusted supply chain partner.
Minster Group – Reducing carbon footprint and landfill waste
To begin the project, Minster Group needed to remove all of the old concrete from the path – a task that was completed using a road planer. The removal and crushing of the old concrete allowed the team to create a reusable byproduct material – a type two sub-base in its lowest form.
By utilising the type two material whilst on site, Minster Group was able to save time and reduce heavy manual labour. The traditional method of excavation would have needed the lifting and lorry transportation of heavy concrete slabs to and from sites – adding additional time to projects.
Minster Group also used the type one material which was recycled from waste concrete products from the Pelham Bridge refurbishment project. This allowed the base of the path to be made from recycled materials before the top level of the tarmac was laid.
As well as creating type-one material from the Pelham Bridge refurbishment project, Minster Group has also initiated trials for the creation of C20 concrete. It is ideal for lightweight domestic and commercial construction as well as unstable ground surfaces. Minster Group was able to produce this recycled material, as a complementary product, by utilising the feedstock of crushed and screened materials sourced from Pelham Bridge.
Bruce Spencer-Knott, managing director of Minster Group, said: “The recycling of old road materials from the carriageways is allowing Minster Group to provide a solution to the current materials shortages problem.
“As it’s becoming harder to procure concrete due to various factors, including lorry driver shortages and the allocation of resources to large projects such as HS2, we’ve invested heavily into recycling road materials.
“The recycling scheme enables us to create a low-grade concrete to serve the purpose of tasks such as backing new curbs. The recycling of materials also reduces the volume being disposed of at landfill sites. In this case, we were able to remove waste concrete materials from Pelham Bridge and reuse them within the city to support other infrastructure improvements.
“I am very proud of this forward-thinking recycling work that’s not only benefiting Lincolnshire’s road users but also supporting the civil engineering industry whilst significantly reducing our carbon footprint.”