Core materials for Weymouth relief road are locally sourced (From Dorset Echo)

Core materials for Weymouth relief road are locally sourced

10:55am Wednesday 24th February 2010 in

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Core construction materials for the A354 Weymouth relief road are being supplied from local production units in Dorset, protecting jobs and ensuring a bright future at a very difficult time for the construction industry.

Hanson UK, which has a strong presence in the county, is the main supplier to the £87.4million project, managed by Skanska Civil Engineering.

The road will require more than 200,000 tonnes of aggregate, 20,000 cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete and the supply and lay of 80,000 tonnes of asphalt.

The company says that the use of local materials is protecting jobs and ensuring a bright future at a very difficult time for the construction industry.

Most of the aggregate is being supplied from Hanson’s West Knighton sand and gravel quarry near Dorchester, while the concrete will come from plants in Weymouth and Dorchester. Limestone and asphalt will be supplied from Hanson’s Whatley quarry in Somerset.

The relief road, due to be opened in Spring 2011 at the latest, is a 7km single carriageway which includes a new park and ride facility, cycleways and bridleways and removal of an existing hairpin bend.

With sailing for the 2012 Olympics taking place at Weymouth and Portland, it will improve access as well as reducing journey times between Weymouth and Dorchester.

Hanson UK’s major projects manager Sean Hunter said: “Our ability to supply materials from local units was crucial.”