Concrete repairs completed on M54 ahead of schedule
National Highways has completed vital concrete repair works on the M54 motorway between junctions 2 (Coven Heath) and 4 (East Telford), successfully avoiding two full weekend closures and finishing the scheme ahead of schedule.
Originally scheduled to require eight weekend closures—including over the Easter bank holiday—the project concluded with just six closures. This was made possible by accelerated progress and effective planning by contractors, allowing some of the remaining work to be completed during quieter overnight periods.
Upgrades to ageing infrastructure
The M54 repair programme is part of a wider National Highways initiative targeting the 400 miles of concrete roads on England’s strategic network. Built mainly in the 1960s and 70s, these surfaces have long outlasted asphalt equivalents but are now reaching the end of their design life.
The works involved removing and replacing degraded concrete slabs, renewing road markings, and installing new road studs to improve safety and ride quality for motorists.
Dan Bothwick, project manager at National Highways, said: “We always try to minimise disruption wherever possible and only close the road if we really have to, for the safety of both our workforce and road users.
So we are delighted that we have been able to reduce the number of weekend closures, and the impact on road users, and that we could finish off some works overnight when we know roads are quieter.”
He added that the team managed to carry out more repairs than originally planned after discovering additional damage during the works.
Contractor input helped streamline the project
Concrete Repairs Limited (CRL), the principal contractor, carried out early contractor involvement (ECI) ahead of the February start, enabling thorough planning and efficient on-site execution.
Adrian Pike, highways manager at CRL, said: “This really helped with the planning, sequencing and methodology, particularly regarding traffic management and resourcing.
The team worked really well and it’s a credit to all those involved that the scheme completed ahead of schedule, minimising the impact to the travelling public, local businesses and other stakeholders.”
CRL also employed a dedicated public liaison officer to keep road users informed about upcoming closures and diversion routes, helping to manage expectations and reduce disruption.
The repairs were carried out in directional phases, with only one side of the carriageway closed at a time. With all resurfacing and safety improvements now complete, drivers can expect smoother, safer journeys along this key stretch of the West Midlands motorway network.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter
