Smart Motorways (M1)
Requirement
A number of welfare units were required by client Costain Galliford Try for smart motorway roadworks on the M1.
The main objectives were cutting the time to access and use the facilities and limiting downtime of the units. Highway work adds a number of challenges that are not found on building sites – for example, operatives have further to travel to get to the unit (this can be up to half a kilometre). It is imperative that the unit is fully operational when the operatives arrive.
The units were required for long term hire (in this instance 3 years and 8 months) therefore, the units needed to be secure, anti-vandal, comfortable and reliable.
- Project name: Smart Motorways (M1)
- Sector: Highways
- Location: M1 Junction 13-16
- Client name: Costain Galliford Try
- Supplied by: Wernick Hire
- Accommodation type: Welfare units x 30 units (20ft and 24ft)
- Duration of project: 3 years, 8 months
- Features: Welfare provisions i.e. seating, kitchen, toilets plus site specific upgrades
Solution
Wernick Hire accommodated numerous bespoke options for the units. To speed up breaks, kettles were replaced with Burco boilers and to aid coming and going, locks were replaced with sliding bolts and combination key boxes to secure the keys. To ensure operators can still access units if keys are lost or unavailable, brand new units for the verge works will be keyed alike. The client also supplied their own sanitary stations, which the depot fitted to the units before they arrived.
Wernick delivered 30 units to the location which, during the project, will serve around 2,000 operatives. A preventative maintenance programme was established whereby an operative from Wernick attends the site once a week. Any foreseeable issues are caught before they can occur.
We have experienced minimal breakdowns and we would put this down to the maintenance schedule that is in place. The saving to us is in terms of man hours – if the welfares were not running the workforce would have to journey further for breaks.
