Highways Plus has invested in advanced paving capability that solves three critical client challenges: compressed timelines, comprehensive quality documentation for adoption, and complex site geometry. The VÖGELE SUPER 1803-3(i) delivers measurable benefits – GPS-tagged temperature monitoring, and 3.5-metre turning circles for constrained sites, contributing to a 25% faster project completions and quicker Section 278 handovers.
40% growth demands capability investment
When your project pipeline grows 40% in 18 months, you can’t simply work harder. You need to work smarter with equipment that transforms what’s possible.
Highways Plus recently acquired the VÖGELE SUPER 1803-3(i) wheeled paver – but this isn’t a story about buying impressive machinery. It’s about responding to specific problems that commercial clients, developers, and main contractors tell us they’re facing on every project.
The outcome? Projects that previously took days now complete in shifts. Quality documentation that used to require weeks of compilation generates automatically. Complex geometry that created timeline delays becomes routine work.
Tony Flook, Highways Plus stands next to the recently acquired VÖGELE SUPER 1803-3(i) wheeled paver
“We’re not investing in equipment because it looks good,” says Tony Flook, Managing Director. “We’re investing because clients need faster timelines, documented quality, and certainty on complex projects. This gives us the technical capability to deliver exactly that.”
Three client problems solved
1. Complex geometry no longer extends timelines
Estate roads with 14 tight corners. Car parks with constrained access. Urban sites where every metre matters.
Pivot Steer technology reduces the outside turning circle to 3.5 metres, which means complex geometry becomes straightforward work rather than a programme-extending challenge.
Real-world result: A recent Salisbury estate road project budgeted for three days based on previous contractor timelines. Highways Plus completed the entire paving programme in one eight-hour shift.
For developers facing show home deadlines, that timeline compression has direct ROI impact. For main contractors managing multiple sites, it reduces programme conflicts and weather exposure.
Highway adoption authorities don’t want promises. They want proof.
The integrated RoadScan temperature monitoring system provides exactly that:
FeatureBenefitHigh-precision infrared scanningMeasures entire pave width in 25cm × 25cm grid squares±2°C accuracyAcross complete 0-250°C temperature rangeGPS positioning dataEvery reading includes location coordinatesAutomated reportingGenerates adoption-ready documentation automatically
No assumptions. No extrapolation from sample points. Complete coverage of every square metre.
“We recently completed Section 278 works where the highways authority required comprehensive temperature documentation,” explains Mike Clancy, Non-Executive Director. “With RoadScan, we provided GPS-tagged data for every square metre. The adoption process that typically takes months completed in six weeks.”
3. Productivity without quality compromise
A wide, empty street lined with modern, two-storey houses on both sides features well-kept lawns and streetlights—an example of a development where what is a section 38 agreement might apply to ensure proper road adoption. | Highways Plus
Let’s translate technical specifications into project benefits:
700 tonnes/hour laydown rate means:
Car parks that required two weeks now finish in four days
Warehouse yards that tied up resources for a month complete in a fortnight
Section 278 works deliver 25% faster than previous benchmarks
13-tonne material hopper capacity means:
Minimal interruptions during truck changes
Consistent material flow maintains quality
Fewer stop-start cycles that create potential defects
Automated grade control (Niveltronic Plus) means:
Specification-compliant levels first time, every time
Reduced rectification risk on Section 104/278/38 works
Plug-and-play sensor connectivity speeds setup
“The productivity advantage isn’t just machine output. It’s how faster completion reduces overall project risk – less weather exposure, fewer programme conflicts, earlier handover. Every day we compress your timeline has a multiplier effect on project value.” – Mike Clancy, Non-Executive Director
How this advanced paving capability enhances our service portfolio
This capability investment directly strengthens every commercial service Highways Plus delivers:
✓ Section 278 Highway Works Full specification compliance with documented quality accelerates adoption timelines by up to 40%.
✓ Commercial Car Park Surfacing Complex geometry handling with 3.5m turning circles eliminates timeline delays on constrained sites.
✓ Road Construction & Resurfacing Eight-metre paving width capability with automated quality systems ensures consistent specification compliance.
✓ Warehouse Yard Construction High-output capability (700t/hour) delivers large-area surfacing in compressed timeframes.
A wet, lorry depot with parked lorries and vans near large warehouse buildings showcases advanced paving, as white directional arrows and parking markings stand out on the shiny, rain-soaked pavement under a cloudy sky. | Highways Plus
✓ Project Enabling Works Variable screed width (2.55m to 8m) means comprehensive capability across every project phase.
✓ Section 104 Adoption Management GPS-tagged temperature monitoring provides the comprehensive documentation adoption authorities require.
The numbers behind strategic investment
Pipeline Growth: 40% increase over 18 months driven by demand for contractors who deliver certainty
Completion Speed: 25% faster on Section 278 works with full quality documentation
Adoption Timeline: 40% reduction in highways authority adoption processes due to comprehensive quality proof
Quality Consistency: Zero defect rectification on projects completed with automated quality systems
Programme Reliability: 30% reduction in weather-related delays through faster completion
“The business case wasn’t based on assumptions,” Clancy notes. “It was clear client demand and measurable benefits we could deliver. Three months in, the results validate that decision completely.”
Environmental and operational advantages
Construction workers in orange reflective gear operate machinery and lay fresh tarmac on a motorway at night, with steam rising from the hot surface—a testament to strategic investment and a focus on timely project completion under bright work lights. | Highways Plus
ECO mode maintains full output at reduced 1,700 rpm
Wheeled configuration advantages:
Self-transport at 20 km/h reduces mobilisation costs
Lower maintenance requirements vs tracked alternatives
Extended service intervals reduce downtime
Fewer moving parts improve reliability
These operational efficiencies directly impact project costs while supporting sustainability credentials increasingly required for public sector contracts.
Client-specific advantages
For Developers:
Complex geometry no longer extends timelines
Comprehensive documentation accelerates adoption
Faster completion reduces capital holding costs
Show home deadlines met with documented quality
For Main Contractors:
Reliable subcontractor partnership with proven capability
Verified specification compliance with complete documentation
Reduced rectification risk through automated quality control
Faster project completion minimises public disruption
Long-term value through consistent quality
What this means for your next project
A bright yellow road paver machine, ideal for motorways and faster project completion, is parked on a paved area outside a modern office building with large windows and a sign that reads “Wirtgen Group. | Highways Plus
If you’re planning commercial surfacing work in the South West, Wales, Thames Valley, or Home Counties, Highways Plus now delivers:
✓ Proven capability on complex projects ✓ Comprehensive quality documentation for adoption ✓ Timeline compression without quality compromise ✓ Specification compliance you can verify ✓ Equipment reliability backed by VÖGELE’s 180+ year heritage
Want the full story? Read our comprehensive article exploring how strategic equipment investment delivers project certainty: Building Plant News Latest Edition
Your project deserves more than promises
Strategic investment in capability means Highways Plus can now deliver what clients actually need: faster timelines, documented quality, and project certainty.
Not with promises, but with proven technology, documented results, and measurable benefits on completed projects.
Ready to discuss your specific project requirements?
Contact Tony Flook directly on 01761 202 012 or visit highwaysplus.co.uk to discuss how our enhanced capability solves your challenges.
Your project is our business.
Your Commercial Surfacing & Civil Engineering Specialists
Your project is our business Not just our tagline - it's how we operate on every project.
Tony's been leading teams and delivering complex surfacing projects for over 25 years. He started Driveways Plus because he got tired of seeing homeowners let down by cowboys who didn't understand the engineering side of things. When he's not obsessing over sub-base specifications, you'll find him mentoring the next generation of specialists who actually give a damn about doing it right.
Ben's worked his way up from laying roads to managing multimillion-pound contracts over 25 years in the highways sector. He knows exactly what separates a driveway that lasts three years from one that's still perfect in 20. He joined Driveways Plus to bring proper commercial-grade expertise to residential work, because your home deserves the same engineering standards as major infrastructure projects.
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