PROJECT EXAMPLE: Removing knotweed from the M25
Working at the side of the M25 – around 8m from the live carriageway has its challenges. Here we delivered the contract with H&S at the forefront!
We were contracted by the ecology consultant to fully excavate and remove Japanese knotweed which fell inside the proposed Balfour Beatty construction area. Knotweed rhizomes were found to be growing towards the motorway beneath the surface water drainage channel alongside the blacktop motorway. This channel is due to be removed and so it is likely that we will be requested to return to site once instructed as Phase 2, to remove the remaining knotweed here.
After setting up safety barriers and ensuring the team were fully briefed via a toolbox talk we proceeded to mark out the area affected with knotweed.
Green vegetation was scraped off with the excavator and removed to landfill, before full excavation and removal of knotweed soils as far as the drainage channel was completed, with waste being directly loaded and removed to landfill.
Once knotweed material and contaminated soils had been extracted from the dig zone, a temporary porous root barrier was installed to separate remaining rhizomes running underneath the motorway from the clean excavated area.
THE OUTCOME
We removed a total of 15 loads including one load of vegetation. Not one of the most peaceful projects the team have experienced, with constant traffic noise and robust safety protocols in place, but successfully completed on time.
We provide a range of excavation options to suit the site and your project needs. To find out more or ask the team a question get in touch.