Smarter'Materials'for'Next' Generation'Infrastructure5. Canal Towpaths Technical Case Study

Transcription

1 Smarter'Materials'for'Next' Generation'Infrastructure Canal Towpaths Technical Case Study

2 Canal%Towpaths- - Stretching'over'hundreds'of'miles,'the'towpaths'that'follow'the'UK s'canal'system' offer'a'unique'insight'into'the'way'our'industrial'heritage'was'shaped.'in'recent'years,' the'canal'&'river'trust'has'helped'to'reinvigorate'many'sections'of'canal'towpath,' allowing'users'to'once'again'follow'these'historic'water'routes'and'reconnect'with' many'lost'parts'of'both'urban'and'countryside'locations. In'order'to'improve'accessibility,'KBI'Flexi LPave'has'been'deployed'by'the'Canal'&' River'Trust'in'several'different'locations'throughout'the'UK.'The'key'properties'of'the' material' 'high'porosity,'flexible,'ecolfriendly'and'easy'to'install'l'make'it'an'ideal' way'to'combat'standing'water,'water'logging,'water'erosion'and'inefficient'drainage.' The'ability'to'mix'and'install'by'hand'also'allows'the'material'to'be'laid'in'very' inaccessible'areas. In'some'cases,'our'installation'teams'have'actually'used'vintage'canal'barges'to' transport'our'material'and'to'act'as'mixing'stations'whilst'working'in'locations'with' limited'access,'showcasing'the'unique'synergy'between'old'and'new'technology. - Below:'The'old'towpath'in'Northampton'was' nonlexistent'in'certain'places.'the'naturally' worn'path'was'barely'visible,'and'heavy' rainfall'would'leave'the'path'impassable'due'to' waterlogging. Above:'The'naturally'formed'path'in' AshtonLUnderLLyne'was'a'nuisance'for' pedestrian'users'and'cyclists,'having' gone'past'the'point'of'being'rugged' terrain'and'in'to'the'realms'of'being' unsafe.

3 Due'to'the'tight'nature'of'the'site' in'ashtonlunderllyne,'an'old' canal'barge'was'used'to'transport' materials'to'the'required'sections.' It'was'also'used'as'the'main'mix' station,'ensuring'the'path'stayed' clear'of'materials'and'improving' efficiency.

4 This'canal'towpath'is'a'popular'route'taking'users'from'the'Canal'Museum'at' Portland'Basin'in'AshtonLUnderLLyne'into'the'heart'of'Manchester'City'Centre,' passing'the'manchester'velodrome'(home'of'british'cycling)'and'the'etihad'stadium' (home'of'manchester'city'fc).' ' KBI'Flexi LPave'was'chosen'to'be'placed'in'three'separate'areas'along'the'8km'route.' These'areas'vary'in'traffic'volumes'but'the'all'had'the'same'problem'of'becoming' muddy'and/or'water'logged'after'periods'of'rainfall,'making'the'towpath'impassable' to'all'users. ' The'KBI'Flexi LPave'material' 'with'its'high'porosity'allowing'for'natural'drainage' ' was'a'perfect'solution'for'the'problem'areas.'it'also'had'the'added'bonus'of'being'ecol friendly'due'to'the'use'of'recycled'car'tyres'within'the'material. ' From'a'practical'aspect,'being'able'to'lay'KBI'Flexi LPave'surfacing'by'hand'meant'it' was'suitable'for'use'directly'behind'heritage'coping'stones'and'it'could'be'carefully' laid'around'the'natural'shapes'of'the'stones.'this'avoided'the'need'to'over'lay' surfacing'material'on'top'of'the'coping'stone,'allowing'for'a'neat'and'tidy'finish'to'the' towpath. Rob$Jowi(,$Technical$Engineer,$Canal$&$River$Trust$: Top'Right:'The'KBI'Flexi LPave'was'installed'on' top'of'a'simple'sublbase.'with'a'completely' porous'toplsurface,'the'new'path'will'be'free' from'standing'water'and'ice,'creating'a'far'more' userlfriendly'public'resource.

5 The'canal'towpath'within'Northampton'was'well'used'by'the'public,'but'had'severe' drainage'and'usability'issues.'this'meant'that'it'was'sometimes'avoided'as'a'means'of' travel. Our'requirement'for'a'solution'was'one'that'was'sustainable,'would'require'minimal' maintenance,'but'could'be'easily'and'quickly'repaired'if'required.'the'logical'choice' to'meet'these'design'criteria'was'kbi'flexi LPave. The'works'on'site'went'very'well,'and'the'team'from'KBI'UK'was'always'ready'to' discuss'the'material'with'interested'parties,'which'included'persons'within'the'canal' &'River'Trust'and'the'public.'The'resulting'surfacing'is'one'which'blends'in' sympathetically'with'its'canal'based'environment,'but'meets'all'our'design' requirements. - Robert$Drinkwater,$Senior$Project$Manager,$Canal$&$River$Trust$: This'page:'The'finished'towpaths' have'regenerated'the'sections'of' canal'that'they'serve.'with'no' standing'water,'the'safer'nature'of' the'surface'has'opened'up'the'path' to'a'broader'range'of'people,' including'wheelchair'users,'cyclists' and'families.

6 KBI'Flexi LPave'is'the'perfect'material'for'canal'towpaths,'but'installing'it'at'these' particular''locations'is'a'huge'challenge.'both'the'northampton'and'ashton'projects' had'unique'aspects'to'their'locations,'and'both'required'our'teams'to'think'creatively' when'it'came'to'managing'the'sites.''the'use'of'the'old'canal'barge'during'the'ashton' project'may'have'looked'archaic,'but'it'was'the'perfect'example'of'how'old'school' methods'can'play'a'part'in'delivering'modern'services.'we'simply'could'not'have' undertaken'the'installation'without'this'innovative'thinking.'northampton'posed' similar'challenges'in'terms'of'site'access,'but'again'we'were'able'to'negotiate'any' obstacles'to'complete'the'project'within'the'schedule.'the'fact'that'kbi'flexi LPave'is' installed'by'hand'gives'us'a'greater'degree'of'flexibility'when'it'comes'to'working'on' sites'of'this'nature.'furthermore,'both'clients'identified'the'recycled'nature'of'the' product'as'a'key'factor'in'the'decision'making'process. ' Graham$Pell,$Managing$Director,$KBI$UK$Ltd: Key'Statistics'L'Northampton Car'Tyres'Used! 7,87 Colour'Scheme! Black'Rubber'&'Gold Stone Duration! 30'Days'Onsite Key'Statistics'L'Ashton Car'Tyres'Used! 3,940 Colour'Scheme! Black'Rubber'&'Gold Stone Duration! 20'Days'Onsite

7 This'page:'The'projects'undertaken' with'the'canal'&'river'trust'further' emphasise'kbi'uk s'widening' marketplace'and'growing'reputation.' Not'only'is'our'KBI'Flexi LPave' product'seeing'more'and'more'use,'our' installation'teams'are'also'developing'a' name'for'efficiency,'quality'and' innovation.

8 KBI UK Ltd HM 3.9 Holmfield Mills Holdsworth Road Holmfield Halifax HX3 6SN Tel: Smarter'Materials'for'Next' Generation'Infrastructure