serving London and the South East of England β professional, dust-controlled joint cutting by an experienced, accredited specialist contractor.
in a hurry? Call us now: π 020 3286 3428 / 01424 720259
Or visit us at diamonddrillinguk.com
Diamond Drilling UK recently completed a run of precision core drilling on a live motorway bridge on the M6 in Rugby, Warwickshire. The work involved drilling 26mm holes through 250mm reinforced concrete to support the installation of new bridge expansion joints, and it was all carried out on night shifts to keep disruption to road users to a minimum.
Quick Summary
β What: diamond core drilling of 26mm holes through 250mm reinforced concrete for bridge expansion joints.
β Where: M6 motorway bridge, Rugby, Warwickshire.
β When: night shifts, within road closures and traffic management.
β Who: Diamond Drilling UK Ltd, a DSA member and CHAS-accredited diamond drilling and concrete cutting contractor established in 2005.
β Contact: 01424 720259 or diamonddrillinguk.com.
Here is how the job was planned and delivered, and why this kind of work should always go to a specialist diamond drilling contractor.
Project at a Glance
β Location: M6 motorway, Rugby, Warwickshire
β Structure: Motorway bridge deck, expansion joint replacement
β Service: Diamond core drilling
β Hole size: 26mm diameter
β Material: 250mm reinforced concrete (R/C)
β Shift pattern: Nights, within the clientβs traffic management
β Delivered by: Diamond Drilling UK Ltd
The Challenge
β Live road, limited hours: all drilling had to be completed within night-time closures on one of the busiest motorways in the country, so every hour on site counted.
β Reinforced concrete: 250mm of R/C bridge deck with steel reinforcement running through it.
β Tight tolerances: holes had to be accurately positioned and drilled plumb so the expansion joint system could be fixed correctly.
β Structural sensitivity: a bridge deck is not the place for hammer drilling, vibration or spalling around the holes.
How We Delivered It
β Rig-mounted core drilling: we used a base-mounted diamond core drill for straight, accurate holes and a consistent 250mm depth.
β Diamond bits through rebar: diamond core bits cut cleanly through concrete and steel reinforcement without shattering the surrounding deck.
β Water suppression: wet drilling kept silica dust down and the bits cool through each shift.
β Clean, repeatable holes: neat, uniform holes ready for the joint installers, with no breakout at the surface.
β Night-shift discipline: lighting, PPE and a tidy work area so the closure could reopen on time each morning.
Why You Should Always Get the Professionals In
Drilling into a bridge or motorway structure is very different from drilling on a standard building site. Using a specialist contractor matters because:
β Structural integrity: diamond drilling is low-vibration and does not crack or weaken the surrounding concrete.
β Accuracy first time: mis-drilled holes on a bridge deck cost time, money and possibly remedial works.
β Rebar handled properly: experienced operatives know how to manage hitting reinforcement without damaging kit or the structure.
β Programme certainty: highways closures are booked well in advance, so overruns can be expensive for the main contractor.
β Health and safety: wet cutting controls silica dust, and trained operatives work safely in live traffic environments.
β Accountability: proper RAMS, accreditations and insurance behind every job.
Floor Sawing on Motorways and Highways
Alongside core drilling, Diamond Drilling UK also provides floor sawing for motorway, trunk road and bridge projects:
β Cutting out concrete and asphalt for expansion joint replacement
β Straight, clean cuts for carriageway and bridge deck repairs
β Trenching for drainage, ducting and cabling
β Night and weekend working to suit road closures
β Water-suppressed cutting for dust control
Areas We Cover
We are based in the South East, but motorway and highways work takes us wherever the job is, as this M6 project in Rugby shows:
β Highways and motorway work: Rugby, Warwickshire and the Midlands, plus motorway and trunk road projects further afield
β Core areas: London, East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and the wider South East
β Offices: St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex and Hatton Garden, London
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carried out the core drilling on the M6 bridge in Rugby?
Diamond Drilling UK Ltd carried out the 26mm diamond core drilling through 250mm reinforced concrete for the expansion joint works, working night shifts. Contact 01424 720259 or visit diamonddrillinguk.com.
Can you core drill through reinforced concrete bridge decks?
Yes. Diamond core bits cut through both concrete and steel reinforcement cleanly, which is why diamond drilling is the standard method for bridge and highway structures.
Do you work nights on motorway and highway projects?
Yes. We regularly work nights and weekends to fit around road closures and traffic management.
Is core drilling safe for a bridge structure?
Diamond core drilling is low-vibration and produces clean holes without spalling, which makes it the preferred method for structural concrete.
Do you offer floor sawing on motorways as well?
Yes. We provide floor sawing for expansion joints, deck repairs and trenching on motorways, trunk roads and bridges.
About Diamond Drilling UK
β Established 2005: specialists in diamond drilling, concrete cutting and Brokk robotic demolition.
β Accredited: member of the Drilling and Sawing Association (DSA) and CHAS accredited.
β Qualified teams: CSCS-registered operatives.
β Trusted by main contractors: working with principal contractors, including tier-1 firms, across London and the South East.
β Two offices: St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex and Hatton Garden, London.
Get in touch
Planning any cutting or drilling works? Get the professionals in from the start.
Diamond Drilling UK Ltd π 020 3286 3428 / 01424 720259
π§ info@diamonddrillinguk.com
π www.diamonddrillinguk.com
East Sussex Office: 215 Harley Shute Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 9JJ London Office: Unit 34, 67β68 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8JY
For diamond drilling across the South East β there is only one call to make.
precision Drilling. Concrete Cutting. Safe. Reliable. Professional. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quotation β anywhere across the South of England.
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