The A1 motorway around the Villepinte exit to the north of Paris is well known to professionals from the building industry, as close to this place the “Intermat” fair opens its doors every 3 years. In June 2006, two months after the fair, construction machines could be seen there as well, but not spick and span in an exhibition hall. This time they were on the scene at night paving asphalt. The reason was widening of the A1, one of Europe’s busiest motorways, from three to four lanes in northbound and southbound directions over a 7km stretch. The paving job was done by 4 SUPER pavers in full road width.

The A1 is the motorway link between Paris and Great Britain, the Benelux countries and northern Europe. It carries giant flows of traffic. More than 200,000 vehicles come along day after day, with heavy vehicles accounting for some 20%.

Strong pavement design

To keep the traffic flowing and avoid congestion on the outskirts of the city of Paris, home to 12 million people, a fourth lane has been added to the 3-lane dual carriageway over a section of 7km and exits were widened from one to two lanes. The design of the newly built fourth lane, almost 90cm thick, reflects the enormous traffic load the roadway is required to withstand. Water-bound base was specified in a thickness of 30cm, followed by two layers of concrete totalling 52cm as well as a 2.5cm layer of stone mastic asphalt (0/6) and a 2.5cm layer of asphaltic concrete (0/10).

Paving operations on the A1 motorway

The French construction company Appia was awarded the contract to pave surface course on the 4-lane carriageway in full road width. Four VÖGELE pavers moved onto the site to get the job done: 1 SUPER 1800, 2 SUPER 1800-1 and a brand new SUPER 2100-2. It was their turn after water-bound base and concrete layers for the fourth lane had been completed. On the 15.5m wide carriageway, Appia finally paved the 2 asphalt layers in 9 overnight closures.

SUPER pavers on night shift

Night work was a must on this busy motorway along the periphery of the French capital as day-time closures would have caused inacceptable disruption with traffic piling up for kilometres. A “go” for asphalt paving was given at 10 p.m. each night. The 4 SUPER pavers set to work immediately with no break until the early morning hours. It was the SUPER 2100-2 with ErgoPlus on board, the VÖGELE concept for easy paver handling, that took the lead.

There was no time to lose

Given such a short window of time, stops or delays were not permitted. On jobs like this, logistics are of utmost importance, and so is equipment. This is why Appia relied on technology made by VÖGELE, based on the contractor’s experience with the brand on past projects. Results proved that their choice was right. Early every morning before the rush hour, the motorway could be handed back to traffic – after the thin asphalt surfacing had cooled and traffic line markings were applied. Thanks to a well organized job site, good logistics and reliable VÖGELE technology, the pavers’ work on the A1 motorway proceeded well at an operating speed of 6m/min. Each night, the four crews completed 1.5km of carriageway in an average width of 15.5m. After 9 overnight closures, the new section carried traffic again 24 hours a day. Four lanes are available now with a surfacing offering excellent ride comfort for both heavy vehicles and individual cars.

Job Site Details

Resurfacing and widening of the A1 motorway near Paris, France

Length of section: 7km

Width: 15.5m (each direction)

Equipment

1 SUPER 1800,

2 SUPER 1800-1

1 SUPER 2100-2

Paving Details and Material

Layer thickness: 2.5cm (two asphalt layers paved)

Pave speed: 6 m/min.

Binder course: stone mastic asphalt (0/6)

Surface course: asphaltic concrete (0/10)

For further information please contact:

JOSEPH VÖGELE AG

Roland Schug / Martin Hilken

Neckarauer Str. 168 - 228

68146 Mannheim

Germany

Telephone: +49 (0) 621 8105 232

Fax: +49 (0) 621 8105 469

Email: Roland.Schug@voegele-ag.de

Email: Martin.Hilken@voegele-ag.de

Internet: www.voegele-ag.de