Press release: Highways England ‘suited and booted’ for hazardous concrete repairs at Spaghetti Junction

As part of the £4.7m vital repairs to damaged concrete and waterproofing, Highways England is using high-performance jet washers that break up parts of existing concrete. The technique is known as hydrodemolition.

“Safety is always our top priority so our repair crews are wearing special body suits to protect them from flying debris which when it breaks off, can actually travel faster than a bullet,” explains Highways England project manager Jessica Kenny.

“In fact, the water is so highly pressurised that operatives have to lean forward to about 45 degrees to counter the effects of the water jetting otherwise it would knock them off their feet.

“To put it into context, if you imagine the pressure washers that you use to clean the patio at home and multiply that by about ten times, you’re still not even close to the water pressure we’re using in this instance to complete this vital work.”

As well as wearing the protective suits, those operating the machinery also need to work inside a special green cage which is designed to contain flying debris to a confined space.

Last weekend saw more than 356 people and 100 vehicles work on the 45-year-old structure that carries more than 220,000 vehicles a day.

Motorists travelling into Birmingham are still being reminded that key link roads will remain closed until 4 September.

For the duration of the scheme there is no access to the A38(M) from Gravelly Hill or Tyburn Road, with local diversions in place.

The M6 itself remains fully open during the work.

Local routes into the city centre are likely to be busier than usual. Drivers are advised to plan their journey and allow extra time.

Highways England provides live traffic information via its website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available at @HighwaysWMIDS

Traffic management

Weekday restrictions:

• repairs to the inter-city route will be undertaken from Monday through to early Friday evening
• there will be traffic management on the A38(M) Aston Expressway – the tidal flow lane will be closed for the duration of the work
• three narrow lanes on A38(M) out of city with a 30mph speed limit for safety reasons
• 24/7 closure of the Gravelly Hill and Tyburn Road approaches to the A38(M) into city carriageway – diversions will be in place
• Park Circus on-slip will remain open
• Salford Circus will remain open
• free recovery will be available

Weekend restrictions:

We also need to fully close the A38(M) Aston Expressway and the exit slips at M6 junction 6 each weekend until 25 August. The closures will be in place from 8pm on Friday to 6am on Monday.

No traffic will be able to access the Expressway to either enter or leave Birmingham during these closures.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.