Civil engineering specialist GRAHAM has reached a significant milestone in the M2 Junction 5 scheme with the completion of a beam lift for the new Stockbury Flyover.
The lift was completed last Thursday (17 August) using a 450-tonne mega crane to lift into place the two edge beams weighing 56-tonnes each and 16 internal beams weighing 20 tonnes each.
Junction 5, situated in Sittingbourne, Kent is currently listed as one of the top 50 national casualty locations on the strategic road network.
In June 2021 National Highways awarded GRAHAM the £92m contract to upgrade the junction.
The beam lift involved GRAHAM’s civil engineering project team delivering the positioning and installation of 22.5m large precast reinforced concrete beams to form the span of the southern flyover structure.
GRAHAM project manager Stevie Collins said: ‘We’re delighted with the progress being made on the M2 Junction 5 improvements scheme so far and reaching the milestone of the beam installation to the new Southern Stockbury bridge structure.
‘The lifting of the beams was a complex operation delivered meticulously by our project team to ensure a safe and timely installation, particularly while keeping traffic moving at the junction.
‘The approach we’ve taken reflects GRAHAM's dedication to delivering our projects efficiently while also prioritising the safety and convenience of the public.’
National Highways project manager Daniel Rollinson said: ‘The improvements to this junction will tackle the congestion that drivers, businesses and the local communities have been encountering for a long time.’
The next stage of the structure will involve the construction of the in-situ concrete deck.
Other key elements progressing over the next few months will see the North Stockbury bridge structure complete, with major traffic phases on the M2 westbound entry slip and A249 mainline taking place.
