M1 River Avon Bridge - Innovation in Safe Infrastructure Engineering
Steve Dunn
03/11/25
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The M1 River Avon Bridge project, part of the M1 motorway’s vital transport link between London and Leeds, has involved essential repair and cathodic protection works to extend the life of the 194m viaduct near Lilbourne, Northamptonshire.
CRL has worked in partnership with National Highways under an NEC4 Option C contract valued at £3.4 million, with works running from January that are due to be completed in November 2025.
The project presented a significant technical challenge in that of removing an existing corrosion protection system prior to installing a new cathodic protection system that resulted in the requirement for over 5,000 precision overhead core holes having to be drilled through the bridge soffit—some to depths of nearly 600mm—which had to be completed in confined spaces using heavy drills. These conditions created high physical demands and risks associated with fatigue, musculoskeletal strain, and Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
CRL has worked in partnership with National Highways under an NEC4 Option C contract valued at £3.4 million, with works running from January that are due to be completed in November 2025.
The project presented a significant technical challenge in that of removing an existing corrosion protection system prior to installing a new cathodic protection system that resulted in the requirement for over 5,000 precision overhead core holes having to be drilled through the bridge soffit—some to depths of nearly 600mm—which had to be completed in confined spaces using heavy drills. These conditions created high physical demands and risks associated with fatigue, musculoskeletal strain, and Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
To address this, CRL collaborated with supply chain partner UK Diamond Drilling to design a bespoke track-mounted drilling system. The low-profile rig supported the full weight of the drill, allowing operators to work safely and efficiently with minimal vibration exposure. This innovation became a benchmark for health and safety excellence in complex infrastructure repair.
The project will be shortly delivered on schedule despite a huge increase in the number of holes being required to be drilled and with zero safety incidents—a direct result of meticulous planning, operator training, and collaboration between CRL, National Highways, and specialist partners lead by Kevin Gough Jnr & his experienced site team.
In line with CRL’s commitment to sustainability, a solar-powered hybrid generator powered the site, reducing carbon emissions, fuel use, and noise pollution—supporting our goal to lower our environmental footprint while working in a sensitive rural setting.
Beyond the works themselves, CRL have contributed to the local community by donating five defibrillators to the local police force and supporting local accommodation providers for our workforce.
The M1 River Avon Bridge scheme stands as a model of how innovation, safety, and sustainability can combine to deliver infrastructure renewal to the highest standards. Through collaborative engineering and forward-thinking solutions, CRL continues to strengthen the resilience of the UK’s transport network.
