M60 widening, junctions 5 to 8, Greater Manchester
- Client: Highways Agency
- Principal designer: Halcrow
- Principal contractor: AMEC/Alfred McAlpine
- Contract value: £120 million
About the project
The M60 widening project shows how integrated teamworking can deliver a three-year £120 million project to both time and budget. A partnering approach was adopted from the outset with a focus on providing the client and the travelling public with a level of service that exceeded industry standards.
This part of Manchester's orbital motorway used to be plagued by congestion caused by closely spaced junctions and slow local traffic using the motorway as a bypass. The scheme provided additional capacity and involved major modifications to all junctions. Environmental considerations were a priority: the site passed over more than14 landfill sites and foundation design had to ensure protection of local aquifers and avoid contaminated ground. Recycling of site material was undertaken on a massive scale.
Local community projects, including improvements to an animal sanctuary and fishing lake, were undertaken, and the project received a silver award from the considerate contractor's scheme. It has been delivered with an enviable safety record.
The judges said: 'Another tribute to on-time, on-budget construction and delivery'.