Expert teams have resurfaced a 1.5 mile stretch of a major highway using innovative technologies to deliver a standard-setting 75 per cent reduction in carbon emissions, compared with traditional methods.
From biofuel and clean energy which powered the manufacture of the asphalt, through to zero emission and hybrid vehicles, the trial successfully delivered solutions which will help to redefine how we decarbonize critical highways infrastructure.
Carefully choreographed echelon paving - using a continuous formation of paving machines across the full width of the carriageway - ensured the new surface was high-performing and joint-free. It creates a smoother surface and helps prevent water from seeping into the road, which increases its lifespan by more than 20 per cent.
The lower layer of the pavement contained 40 per cent recycled asphalt, giving old road surfaces new life and reducing the need for new materials. In addition, a pioneering new binder was used. Made from biomass not petroleum, it locks carbon into the road, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere.
The trial which was delivered by Tarmac, A CRH Company and National Highways, together with supply chain partners, delivered the UK’s lowest carbon resurfacing scheme on the strategic A64 route without using carbon offsetting.
As well as reducing carbon emissions during construction, the impact of the technologies used in the project will be felt long after its completion. Smoother roads lead to less fuel consumption and are more comfortable and quieter to drive on. They also require less maintenance and last for longer, reducing costs over the lifespan of the road.
This project is a clear demonstration of how, at CRH, we’re constantly innovating to support our customers with solutions that create and maintain vital transport infrastructure and the transition to net zero roads.
