The residents of Denny, a town in the Falkirk area of Scotland, had long suffered with traffic congestion and ongoing risks to safety due to the high volume of vehicles using the two key routes running through the town – Glasgow Road and Broad Street.
To alleviate this, in early 2024, Falkirk Council began work on a 1.3km-long road to connect the two highways to divert HGVs and unnecessary traffic out of Denny’s town centre and create a more community-friendly road network.
High on the list of the Council’s priorities was to ensure the Denny Eastern Access Road was considerate of the environment, supporting local wildlife, improving air quality, encouraging active travel and, importantly, managing the risk of flooding and standing surface water with a sustainable drainage system (SuDs).
Marshalls, an expert in commercial road drainage solutions, was called on to help bring the drainage element to life.
Partnership approach
The project required a linear drainage design with a hydraulic combined kerb and drainage system, meeting a minimum wall thickness of 60mm and installed to a specific kerb upstand.
RJ McLeod, the contractor for the project, had used Marshalls’ commercial road drainage solutions on previous projects, so enlisted the manufacturer’s technical team. Together, RJ McLeod and Marshalls used site drawings and data to develop the necessary hydraulic calculations and produced a proposed design for an effective surface water management and drainage solution for the access road.
The design included a value-engineered solution utilising the Mini Beany, a low to medium-capacity combined kerb and drainage system suitable for E600 loading classification and approved by National Highways for use. The Mini Beany is a proven and trusted low maintenance surface water solution made up of a versatile, two-piece concrete system comprising a top unit and base channel. This allows for quick, easy and risk-free installation.
Marshalls’ Beany product was initially considered for the project, but the Mini Beany was the most suitable product to meet the specific dimensions available for drainage on the road, and could combine with outfall space and swale details to provide the solution desired by Falkirk Council.
Once reviewed by all relevant parties, the proposed design was accepted and Marshalls created a schedule of components to be delivered to site. Overall, the Mini Beany system specified to the Denny Eastern Access Road came to a value of £120k.
The extra mile
To ensure efficiency during the installation process, Marshalls palletised the products required on site according to the phase of works, and delivered ‘Tool Box Talks’ on site to ensure accuracy in installation. The Marshalls team also conducted regular site visits to monitor progress and answer queries, working in true partnership with both the contractor RJ McLeod and Falkirk Council.
Transformative solution
The Denny Eastern Access Road has transformed the town’s road network and surrounding infrastructure, providing both drivers and pedestrians with a safe, accessible route around the local area, and acting as a beacon for sustainable highway design.
Pedestrian refuge islands create safe waiting areas for crossing the road, having been placed at existing public rights of way and core path locations to ensure safety and accessibility. New bus lay-bys along the entire road length further enhance public transport options for residents.
A culvert has also been installed on the road, complete with an otter pass to protect local wildlife, while a landscaping buffer running the length of the road provides a wildlife corridor connecting existing woodland areas.
And, thanks to Mini Beany, the road benefits from a high-quality drainage solution that protects road users from the risks of standing surface water during heavy rainfall and flooding.
Councillor Paul Garner, deputy leader of Falkirk Council, said of the completed project: “This new road is a game-changer for Denny. It not only alleviates traffic congestion but also promotes sustainable transportation options for our residents. The completion of the Denny Eastern Access Road is a testament to our commitment to improving local infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for our community.”
Euan Mackinnon, Water Management and Technical Manager at Marshalls, said: “Having an established relationship with RJ McLeod, we were pleased they sought our expertise in commercial road drainage for this new and landmark project, which will have a profound impact on a community asking for change."
