Winchburgh M9 Junction, West Lothian

All Photos by 'Gary Barker Photography'

Client: Winchburgh Developments Ltd

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We were Principal Contractor on this project for the construction of a new dumbbell grade-separated junction with 4 no. new slip roads. The project consisted of site clearance, earthworks, ground improvements, drainage including SUDS and detention basins, road construction, footway, lighting, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), CCTV, PU diversions, Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS), environmental measures, landscaping and accommodation works.

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Principal Elements

• Excavation/deposition 120,000m3

• Ducting 10,700m

• Topsoil strip/deposition 30,000m3

• Stormwater drainage 6,000m

• Imported Class 1 material 232,000m3 

• Manholes/catchpits 150 no.

• LECA lightweight fill 9,140m3

• Pre-cast concrete portal frame culvert 1 no.

• Capping (6F5) 17,500m3

• Kerbing 3,800m

• Type 1 sub-base 8,500m3

• Surfacing 23,500m2

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Points of Interest

• Approximately 8000m3 of Leca lightweight fill is incorporated into two of the junction embankments. The material was delivered from Portugal to the Port of Leith and delivered to site in a ‘just in time’ format to minimise to environmental impact.

• No material was removed offsite as part of the dig out/replacement works – instead it was incorporated into landscape and amenity bunds to the south west of the new junction.

• Many of the structural embankments on the scheme were formed using a waste product from the historical oil shale mining which was prevalent in West Lothian between 1851 and 1963. The material from Niddry Bing approximately 1.5km from the junction was used.

• The junction provides direct access to the Category A listed and Scheduled Monument, Duntarvie Castle. 

• Challenging ground conditions (soft lacustrine deposits) requiring up to 4m deep excavation at the toe of existing 10-11m high M9 motorway embankment