A5086 Gote Brow Resurfacing, Recycling & Civils

The brief

With DSD Construction acting as Principal Contractor to Cumberland Council, this scheme involved planing and resurfacing of the A5086 carriageway at Gote Brow, Cockermouth using recycled materials to avoid hazardous waste disposal of tar bound material.

Our scope of work on this scheme included:

• Planing out 100-200mm of existing carriageway.
• Excavation of the carriageway by an additional 250mm in some areas and reinstatement with 250mm of type 1 aggregate.
• Recycling tar bound planings using Foambase technology.
• Laying of 100mm recycled material with 50mm of binder and 50mm HRA surface course.
• Reinstating kerbs on both carriageway and footways.
• Installing new drainage and replacing ironwork.
• Renewal of road markings.

Key quantities:

• Recycled Tar Bound Material: 360 t
• Binder Layer at 50mm: 285 t
• HRA Surface Course: 385 t

Challenges & successes

This scheme was delivered within a tight two‑week road closure, giving us a short window to complete all works.

Early in the works we uncovered a damaged culvert beneath the carriageway, which required us to react quickly and replace 18 metres of 600mm pipe, using over‑pumping to divert the running water. This culvert replacement was completed during the first weekend to ensure the overall programme remained on track.

To support the Foambase recycling element of the project, we installed a temporary recycling plant in partnership with OCL at the nearby Cumberland Council depot. This required preparation and tidying to accommodate the plant, which was completed during the first week of the road closure.

Outputs & Benefits

Managed access: The road was closed to the public, but access was maintained for residents, emergency services and a local haulage company whose cranes were too heavy for a nearby bridge.