Long life asphalt paving reduces maintenance

Contractor FM Conway is working on a three year contract with Dover Harbour Board to reconstruct and resurface busy access routes and large vehicle parks within the port.

One of the major factors for this contract being awarded was the company's strong green credentials. The contract is based around small and large individual paving projects within the Eastern Docks, which can range in time scales from three weeks to six months. The first phase of work, which started in early May, was to fully reconstruct 50% of the B Park, a vehicle parking area in the Eastern Docks with a combination of HBM Sub-base and three layers of flexible paving, comprising of HDM base course & SMA binder and surface course.

Further works are scheduled at the Eastern Docks throughout 2011, including the resurfacing of the Car Inward Lanes, Police Station Road and the first phase of reconstruction works to D Park. The first phase of the E Park reconstruction works are programmed to commence in early January 2012.

Multiple divisions will work in tandem to complete these contracts within the port over the next three years and the Structures Maintenance, Surfacing, Lining and Cleansing divisions will all have a specific role to play in the reconstruction and maintenance works.

Currently FM 2329 Conway's workforce at the port consists of a full time contracts manager and 10 personnel, comprising foremen, machine operators, skilled and general operatives. FM Conway invests heavily in recycling technologies and aims to recycle all waste arising from the ongoing works at Dover Harbour as locally as possible. All waste from this project will be recycled by local company Ovendens to recycle all waste from this project which will minimise the transportation distance for materials. At present, FM Conway reuses or recycles up to 95% of its waste and aims to achieve zero waste to landfill by 2012.

Long life surfaces will be installed that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly, with the existing block paving area being replaced with either asphalt or reinforced concrete paving.

All the main roadways are being constructed with concrete paving while the vehicle parks are being surfaced in asphalt, reducing future maintenance needs. Any maintenance that will be required will be easier to carry out, reducing time and disruption to operations. This will also help in reducing the quantity of raw materials used and the amount of waste produced. The Principal Paving Projects contract between FM Conway and Dover Harbour Board will run until 2013.