Using resources carefully on the A3
Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering always seeks solutions which minimise the use of imported aggregates. On its A3 project, the pavement design is based on using site-won materials, improved with lime and cement. Considerable work has been undertaken to ensure these materials do not affect local water resources.
When designing the A3, a long reinforced concrete wall has been replaced with a short length of stone-filled gabion baskets. This will save concrete and raw materials and removes the need for piling. Weathering of the stones in the gabion will give a more natural appearance in time.
By establishing quarries and borrow sites nearby, existing aggregate resources are protected enabling most raw materials to reach the scheme without using public roads. This substantially reduces CO2 emissions by reducing travel distances.