NRP high performance planer drives productivity on the M54

The programme of works on the M54 required operations to be completed in very tight working windows.  Collaboration between Kier, NRP and Highways England was focused on project efficiency. This would require all disciplines to work together, to identify where time could be saved embracing the latest lean best practice. 

National Road Planing (NRP), Tarmac’s industry-leading road planing contractor, debuted a new high-performance planer as part of a drive to boost output and lean efficiency.     

One of only eight machines in Europe, a 3.8m drum fitted to a Wirtgen cold milling machine W 250i was used for the first time on the UK strategic road network. The unique machine, which has the capability to remove around 600 tonnes of asphalt per hour – the equivalent of 30 trucks – and plane one full lane width up to 3.8m wide in a single pass, improves the surfacing process and ultimately the rideability of the newly laid asphalt surface for the road user. 

Jamie Town, general manager, NRP, said: "The high performance of this machine meant that we had the capacity to plane the existing surface quicker, which ensured that our Contracting teams could start laying new asphalt sooner to ultimately reduce disruption for road users and drive efficiency for customers."

Mike Holmes, asset delivery manager for Kier Highways, said: “The benefits of the increased productivity of this machine extended beyond efficiency and output. It facilitated a reduction in time taken to resurface the carriageway, which reduced the number of closures benefitting the travelling public as well as improving road worker safety.”