Temporary works play an important role in keeping highways and utility projects moving, but traditional approaches can create challenges around safety, disruption, traffic management and programme delays.
We caught up with Katie Wills, Business Development Manager UK at Oxford Plastics, who shared her insights into the development of the Low Pro 23/05 and 15/05 road plates, how modular solutions can reduce disruption and the importance of understanding the challenges faced on site.
Q. What challenge led to the development of the Low Pro road plate?
A. The Low Pro road plate came from a practical challenge in London, where roadworks were causing significant congestion and disruption.
Transport for London was looking at ways to reduce the impact of roadworks, while Thames Water was looking for a solution that would allow utility works to continue without unnecessarily holding up traffic.
Working with Thames Water, we developed the Low Pro as a modular alternative to traditional steel plates.
It’s quicker to deploy, easier to reposition and doesn’t require heavy lifting equipment whilst bearing 44 tonne load. That means excavations can be covered more quickly while reducing manual handling risks.
For local authorities, it also helps maintain access for road users and communities while work continues.
Q. Mears Group in the US and Wales & West Utilities in the UK are both using the solution. What does this tell you about the challenges facing infrastructure teams?
A. Although regulations differ between countries, the operational pressures are very similar.
Project teams need to meet permit requirements, maintain access, complete work efficiently and minimise disruption.
Both Mears and Wales & West Utilities have highlighted the value of avoiding unnecessary reinstatement and permit pressure while keeping work moving. It shows that the challenge isn’t country specific. It’s about removing friction from temporary works and giving teams a safer, more flexible way to manage infrastructure projects.
Q. How can the Low Pro Road Plate help reduce risk, control costs and keep projects moving?
A. Every additional site visit or permit extension adds cost and uncertainty.
The Low Pro road plates with a 44 tonne load capability allow excavations to be covered quickly, reopened safely and repositioned as work progresses. This can reduce delays associated with traditional steel plate installation and minimise repeat visits.
So the benefit isn’t simply having a better excavation cover, it’s about creating a more predictable programme, with lower operational risk and fewer unnecessary delays.
Q. Can you give an example of how the system has improved efficiency on a live project?
A. Wales & West Utilities is using the Low Pro 23/05 during road crossings to allow work to progress in phases. Operatives can complete repairs on one side of a carriageway, reposition the plates and continue on the other without necessarily closing the entire road.
Without that approach, temporary tarmac may be needed between phases, adding time and cost and potentially creating additional permit, reinstatement and traffic management requirements.
Using the modular plates allows the team to work within permit windows, avoid unnecessary temporary reinstatement and minimise disruption for road users and local communities.
That’s a challenge we hear regularly from utility companies. Work windows are becoming increasingly restricted because of the need to minimise disruption, so being able to keep people moving while work progresses is a real benefit.
Q. How does a reusable composite road plate support more sustainable street works?
A. Sustainability isn’t just about the material itself; it’s also about how efficiently projects are delivered.
The reusable composite plates reduce reliance on heavy lifting equipment, support quicker installation and can help minimise repeat visits, all of which can contribute to lower emissions over a project’s lifecycle.
The products are also designed for long service. Some utility companies have been using their plates for 10 or 12 years, and components can be repaired or replaced to extend the life of the system.
For us, sustainability means looking at the whole process, from transportation and installation through to how often a product can be reused.
Q. What role do you see modular solutions playing in the future?
A. We think temporary works solutions will become increasingly important because they can remove unnecessary complexity from projects.
The biggest gains come from reducing exposure to heavy lifting, maintaining access for residents and businesses, reducing noise and disruption, and giving operatives greater flexibility as work progresses.
The direction of travel is towards temporary works solutions that are easier to deploy, safer to handle and designed around the needs of the whole project.
It’s about taking a holistic approach that considers the contractor, asset owner and community, rather than simply covering an excavation.
Q. How has feedback from operatives influenced the products?
A. Feedback has been extremely positive.
I’ve been keen to speak directly to utility companies and contractors because we want to keep evolving our products around what people are experiencing on site.
One of the biggest advantages is ease of handling compared with steel plates. The 23/05 and 15/05 are 44 tonne rated and come in modular sections with dedicated lifting points, making it straightforward for two people to move without lifting equipment.
Those features have been developed with health and safety in mind, alongside sustainability and operational efficiency.
Operatives tell us the products can be a real game changer because they allow them to keep working. They can complete one side of a carriageway, move the plates and continue on the other, without the multiple operations often associated with traditional steel plates.
Q. How important is it for Oxford Plastics to be part of wider conversations across the sector, and what does being an LCRIG member bring to that?
A. We’ve only been members for a few months, but for us it’s really about connecting with people across the sector, understanding the challenges they’re facing and sharing ideas.
It’s not simply about promoting our products. We want to listen to local authorities, utility companies and contractors, understand their pain points and use that insight to develop the right solutions.
We’re not the people working on site every day, so getting closer to those who are is really important. That’s how we can continue to evolve and innovate.
There’s also an education piece. The Low Pro road plates have been around for several years, but we’re increasingly hearing from local authorities encouraging contractors to consider them. LCRIG gives us a great platform to raise awareness, while also listening and learning from others across the sector.
Ultimately, it’s about being closer to the people experiencing the challenges so we can develop solutions that genuinely help.
A big thank you to Katie and the Oxford Plastics team for sharing their insights into how modular temporary works solutions can help reduce disruption, improve safety and give infrastructure delivery teams greater flexibility.
Visit oxfordplastics.com to find out more.