Saint-Gobain PAM worked with Wirral Council to make improvements to the A41 New Chester Road in Birkenhead. This case study examines the project requirements, services supplied and the outcome.
Project requirement: The A41 New Chester Road is a busy route in Birkenhead where increasing traffic intensity was leading to more frequent failure of ironwork, higher than budgeted costs and disruption to road users. In congested areas it was also common for cyclists to swerve and avoid the surface water drainage system bringing them into close proximity with traffic leading to an increased risk of accidents.
Services supplied: Initially developed in conjunction with Highways England and Rhino Asphalt Solutions Ltd for use in the strategic road network, Wirral Council recognised the advantages of Saint-Goblin PAM’s Proteus D400 Narrow Profile Hinged Gully Grating when selecting it as their preferred solution. Proteus represents an innovative approach to product design. Its narrow grating profile avoids excessive clipping by traffic, its patented angled bridge is designed to distribute stress and resist displacement enhancing its stability and increasing its durability. At less than 300mm wide its grating profile is safer for cyclists who are sometimes put at risk when swerving to avoid ironwork in the road. Proteus can be used in a wide variety of applications such as roads that have continuous heavy traffic. It has an independently verified BS EN124 2015 load classification of D400 to withstand vehicle loads of up to 40 tonnes.
Outcome: When combined with the Rhino Asphalt Solutions Ltd Ironmaster Installation System and its compatibility with the existing drainage network, Proteus provides a solution that improves cyclist safety and offers long term performance reducing whole life costs for Wirral Council.
Phil Milner from Wirral Council commented: “Over the years we have experienced a number of gully failures. We have noticed that this is largely due to HGV traffic running over the front edge of each piece of ironwork. With Rhino’s and Saint-Gobain PAM’s new Proteus Gully protruding significantly less into the carriageway than a standard gully (but also collecting the same amount of surface water), we are confident in less future failures, and have the reassurance of a five year guarantee.”