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Highways England says it has invested £ 650,000 in the development of the new Deck Scraper vehicle, made by National Flooring Equipment of Minneapolis.
The Deck Scraper uses a blade to shave the asphalt membrane, making it much quieter than a steel toothed excavator bucket hacking it.
Its UK adoption is due to Kier Highways and its subcontractor Currall Lewis & Martin (CLM) Construction, which is based in Oldbury.
Waterproof membranes are routinely used on structures such as bridges and underpasses to help protect the structure from corrosive damage caused by winter blasting operations.
It needs to be removed for concrete repairs, re-waterproofing and pavement resurfacing and this is traditionally done with an excavator.
In addition to the environmental impact of current methods such as dust and noise, there is a greater risk to the workforce using heavy equipment often in a small area. The Deck Scraper is smaller than a standard excavator and does not require an arm or a bucket. It also gives the operator 360 degree visibility, said Highways England.
Mark Sheppard, senior project manager at Kier Highways, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to develop a prototype specifically designed to make the task of waterproof membrane removal techniques more efficient, cost-effective and better for the environment.
“Working with our design partners CLM and specialist manufacturer National Flooring Equipment, the project has culminated in producing a method far removed from existing techniques which are quite brutal and can often introduce further damage to bridge decks as well as being extremely noisy. and dusty.
“And we were able to do it without compromising quality, production or a negative impact on road users.”
After two years of development and after undergoing tests in the United States, the final tests were performed at Kier’s Telford depot and the machine can now be brought to market by National Flooring Equipment.
Highways England has contributed to the development costs of the Deck Scraper through its £ 30 million per year designated fund program, delimited to support innovation.
Highways England Innovations Bring for the Midlands, Lisa Maric said: “Current methods of removing the impermeable layer are quite outdated due to environmental issues and some risks to the workforce. We wanted to develop a unique machine that was more efficient and improved the safety of road workers while reducing the impact on the environment and communities.
“Instead of essentially using a steel bucket with teeth to remove the membrane, we can use a blade to simply peel it off – quietly, effectively and without damaging the road, saving time and money.
“Thanks to the Deck Scraper, this method is expected to now set the intended benchmark for membrane removal across the country.”
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