Improving Reliability with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council is responsible for maintaining and improving Dudley’s roads and highways, managing a network of around 1,000 kilometres of major and minor roads.

Within the Council’s Transport Asset Management Plan October 2015 - March 2020, lifecycle and investment planning were identified as key priorities in developing a long-term approach to managing transport infrastructure assets and delivering high quality services.

Like many local authorities, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council was experiencing recurring issues with failing manhole cover foundations and bedding systems across its highway network. As part of its commitment to long-term asset performance, the authority wanted to identify a more reliable approach that would help reduce maintenance requirements and extend the life of resurfacing investments.

Following discussions with Wrekin’s Regional Sales Manager Dave Sanders, the Council reviewed the performance benefits of our UniPak bedding and packing system. Dudley’s contractor, J A Bates, subsequently placed an order for UniPak after concerns around competitor foundation breakages and inconsistent bedding performance.

Patented design features combine to give Unite one of the longest service lives and lowest whole life costs within the D400 access cover market. Unite exceeds the requirements of BS EN 124 and is third-party accredited with BSI Kitemark certification.

Three-point suspension on the cover delivers non-rock stability, while the patented frame design with enlarged frame corners helps dissipate traffic loading more effectively.

Unite’s anti-flex beam design increases cover stiffness, helping reduce cover seating wear, minimise movement and noise, and lower the risk of long-term structural failure.