News on HS2 in Warwickshire

Stafford-based ground remediation contractor, Deep Soil Mixing used a sustainable soil mixing solution to geotechnically improve the ground at our site near Coleshill in Warwickshire, eliminating nearly 1,000 lorry movement from local roads.

The work was carried out to allow access for construction equipment and stabilise the ground ahead of the installation of a new gas main pipe which needed to be relocated as part of our works.

The company’s soil mixing technique prevents both the removal of material off site and the need for importing fill, which creates huge environmental benefits. The technique involves analysing small samples of soil in a laboratory to determine what the soil needs to be combined with to make it suitable for re-use. The mixing process is then carried out on the site, removing the need to take soil away and replace with new material.

This method meant that nearly 1,000 lorry movements were not required to transport excavated material to landfill, and no need for clean hardcore material to be brought to site. The technique also resulted in improved cost efficiencies and a shortened construction programme.

The project was completed in six months and included preliminary testing and site trials before work began on site. The testing was undertaken at the company’s in-house laboratory and mixing tests carried out on various soil/binder mixes as well as field trials to test the chosen binder in-situ, to ensure the right deep soil mixing solution was undertaken at the site.

Deep Soil Mixing were working for Land and Marine Engineering Ltd (LME), contracted to ours enabling works contractor LM JV (Laing O'Rourke and J. Murphy & Sons). Works in this area are preparing for the railway to be built on a viaduct before it swings west through a tunnel and on towards the new station at Curzon Street in Birmingham.

If you have a question about HS2 or our works, please contact our HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk .