Coalfields Link Road, Barnsley

VHE completed Phase 1, Stage 1 of the Coalfield Link Road which involved the construction of the first 3 kilometres (of the eventual 5.5 km) of single carriageway running from Shafton on the north east side of Barnsley, connecting to the A635 south east of Darfield. The scheme required the excavation of 130,000 cubic metres of material from the site and the import of 200,000 cubic metres of material to prepare the site for the road and drainage works, including the construction of two roundabouts.

Material from the site required further processing to reduce levels of contamination. This was complicated by the variability and contrasting geotechnical properties of these materials. The link road now runs through an area which has been subjected to many years of industrial activity. The area featured the former Grimethorpe colliery, power stations, Coalite processing plants and associated railway sidings, brickworks, sewage works, sludge beds and tip areas. A number of buildings were demolished, leaving piled bases, substructures and networks of redundant cable ductings.

VHE Construction used their considerable expertise in reclamation and remediation to utilise materials adjacent to the site, and to recycle as much material as possible. This led to a reduction in the requirement for the import and disposal of waste by road.