M62 Junction 6 Upgrade: Reinforced Earth® Bridge Abutments for Efficient Traffic Flow
The M62 Junction 6 upgrade project aimed to enhance connectivity by adding two direct connections to one of the busiest junctions in the region. This improvement was designed to ease traffic congestion and reduce delays, providing a more efficient route for drivers while supporting the area’s growing transport needs.
To help achieve this, the Highways Agency’s Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) scheme was used. This allowed key stakeholders, including Pell Frischmann and Laing O’Rourke, to collaborate with Geoquest at the early stages of the project, enabling the team to develop cost-effective and innovative solutions for the bridge abutments.
Geoquest was tasked with designing the bridge abutments for three major structures, including the M62 On-Slip Bridge, which required supporting a 28m precast concrete integral bridge deck. This made it one of the largest integral bridge spans in the UK to be supported by reinforced soil abutments.
To ensure optimal performance and efficiency, Geoquest applied advanced numerical analysis techniques to model the behaviour of the Reinforced Earth® abutments. The finite-difference model examined how the abutments would respond to the substantial loading from the 28m span bridge deck, as well as thermal effects. This detailed analysis enabled Geoquest to propose a highly efficient design solution, providing a more effective alternative to traditional methods.
This innovative approach to bridge abutment design played a key role in the project’s success, helping to deliver the upgrade within budget and on schedule, while improving traffic flow and safety for all road users.
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