Cemex UK is proud to be playing a key role, supplying Porofoam 1000 to one of the South Coast’s most innovative infrastructure projects, supporting the M27 Junction 10 improvement scheme in partnership with VolkerFitzpatrick, National Highways and Hampshire County Council.

Engineering innovation at scale: At the heart of this project is a remarkable feat of modern engineering: a 60 metre long, 8,500 tonne concrete tunnel was constructed off-line and then moved into position beneath the M27 using a highly coordinated “box slide” technique. This approach significantly reduced disruption to one of the region’s busiest motorways, with the structure carefully slid into place in a matter of hours during a planned closure. Following installation, attention turned to a redundant underpass dating back to the 1980s. With limited historical data available on the structure, there were understandable concerns about load-bearing capacity. Traditional infill methods such as stone or mass concrete would have introduced excessive weight, posing a real risk to the integrity of the structure—and ultimately the motorway above.

The Cemex Solution: Porofoam 1000

Working closely with our VAP and Technical teams, Cemex UK supplied Porofoam 1000, a lightweight, high-performance solution ideally suited to this complex challenge.

Porofoam offered several critical advantages:

• Low density, significantly reducing load on the existing structure.
• Excellent flowability, ensuring complete void fill even in difficult-to-access areas.
• Controlled placement, enabling safe and efficient installation.

This made it the optimal solution for stabilising the underpass without compromising structural integrity.

Delivering results

Supply has been managed through our Portsmouth Readymix plant, with nearly 1,000m³ delivered in March alone, a significant operational achievement. Beyond the technical success, the project has also delivered strong commercial results, enabling the Plant to return a standalone EBIT-positive position.

VAP in action

This project is a clear demonstration of how Value Added Products (VAPs) are central to Cemex’s strategy. By combining technical expertise with innovative materials, we are not only solving complex customer challenges but also driving sustainable profitability across our business.

Collaboration driving success

This success would not have been possible without close collaboration between our Operational teams, Technical Specialists, and key stakeholders across the project, including Joanna Devlin, Area Sales Executive for the South Coast, and Herman Claassen, Technical Product Development Manager. It stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when innovation, expertise and partnership come together.