Rubber roads get thumbs up in site test

Aaron Morby 12 years ago
Share

Asphalt made partly from recycled waste tyres has been given the go-ahead after the first UK trial of a new surface mix.

Extensive ‘grip testing’ on a short stretch of the busy A90 dual carriageway between Perth and Dundee has confirmed the revolutionary new materials viability.

“This could transform our approach to road surfacing in the UK,” said Alan Mackenzie, chief executive of Breedon Aggregates Scotland, which produces the new material.

“Our industry has been trying for years to successfully incorporate recycled rubber into asphalt, without much success.

“Thanks to a new technology, which we are partnering with Danish firm Genan to promote in the UK, we can help change that.”

The stretch of road is one of the busiest in Scotland, carrying around 35,000 vehicles a day.

Over the next few months the material will be closely monitored against several key performance criteria, including skid resistance, and the early indications are very encouraging.

Previous attempts to use rubber in asphalt involved trying to melt the rubber completely before mixing it with stone and bitumen.

The new technology  enables it to incorporate rubber particles directly into the binding agent at lower temperatures, with lower levels of emissions.

This delivers significant environmental benefits.

Since 2006, EU rules have banned the disposal of tyres to landfill, leaving large quantities of shredded rubber to find alternative uses in various forms of recycling.

According to the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers Association, nearly 480,000 tonnes of used tyres arose in the UK in 2009.

Life Cycle Assessment studies show that for every ton of scrap tyres used for rubber modification of bitumen and asphalt, 1.1 tons of CO2 emissions are saved compared with incineration of the tyres.

“We’re bringing to market an asphalt which is more economical and environmentally friendly than any comparable product currently available,” added Mr Mackenzie.

“We’ll be drawing on a readily-available recycled raw material, reducing the proportion of expensive stone and bitumen in the mix and cutting the amount of gases and fumes produced, so it’s an all-round win for us and for our customers.”

Transport Scotland said: “We are pleased that industry has identified this opportunity and developed an alternative surfacing material for use on the trunk road network.

“This adopts a sustainable approach in making the best use of resources available, by re-using an abundant waste material and thereby reducing the use of oil-based bitumen products.

“TS will continue to work collaboratively with the industry under the auspices of the TS Pavement Forum and we look forward to the continued success of this initial trial.”

Following the success of the trial in Scotland, Breedon Aggregates will now begin to market the new material, to be called Breedon Polymer R+, from its 18 asphalt plants throughout Scotland and England.

Latest news

Skanska signs £197m deal for Mayfair offices job

South Molton job consists of two big office buildings
10 hours ago

Cost of fixing unsafe cladding soars to over £16bn

Watchdog urges new 'hard target date' to complete all recladding works
10 hours ago

Scottish Water opens bidding on £800m framework

Innovative ceramic membrane water treatment works programme
10 hours ago

Carbon capture concrete hits London sites

Neustark and Aggregate Industries launch new technology to UK market
10 hours ago

Six win £300m cladding retrofit deal

Major social landlord Riverside Group to reclad 22 towers
10 hours ago

Winchmore lands brickwork package on Graham £80m academy

Alkerden Academy is one of the largest schools to be built in the region
11 hours ago

Construction firms blast “true cost of Budget”

Firms fear tax hikes will lead to reduced hours and job cuts for staff
3 days ago

Steel bridge specialist sold to staff

Nusteel Structures Group becomes industry's latest Employee Owned Trust
3 days ago

Ex-Lendlease chief to lead Euston housing regeneration

Bek Seeley to head Euston Housing Delivery Group
3 days ago

Ardmore lands Kensington hotel revamp

Contractor to transform former Kensington Holiday Inn
3 days ago

RED wins £35m brace of projects in Bristol

Works include student halls and major facade fire safety remediation
3 days ago

Wates starts £300m Gartree super prison job

Early works start on 1,700-prison place job next to existing prison
4 days ago

Five road schemes worth £1.3bn axed

Still no decision on £1.5bn A66 upgrade or £9bn Lower Thames Crossing
5 days ago

Budget: Chancellor to fund HS2 tunnels to Euston

Schools and hospitals get extra £1.85bn cash injection to tackle work backlog
5 days ago

Skills card changes will mean fewer labourers

CSCS wants to cut the numbers with 500,000 labourer cards currently in circulation
4 days ago

Wates hires former ISG fit-out chief to lead new team

Lee Phillips to head up new London office fit-out arm
5 days ago

Major London offices to student rooms scheme approved

65 Fleet Street office block to be converted to 850-student rooms
4 days ago

M Group Services buys MEICA contractor BGEN

Warrington-based engineering contractor employs 1500 staff
5 days ago

VINCI Construction swoops for FM Conway

Conway family sells £580m turnover Kent-based highways contractor
5 days ago

United Living bolts on property upkeep firm Pilon

Deal to buy £40m turnover social housing property services contractor
5 days ago

Sheffield facade specialist bought by Swedish firm

Building envelope giant Fasadgruppen makes first UK acquisition
5 days ago

Nexus buys Coleman Construction & Utilities for £5.4m

Nexus moves into civils with acquisition of East Sussex contractor
5 days ago

Councils get £68m to clear brownfield sites

Site renovation work will clear way for 5,200 new homes
5 days ago

Private investor buys Midlands contractor MCS

Deal values £100m revenue building contractor at £22m
5 days ago

Willmott Dixon to build Oxford net zero council HQ

Work to start next year on net zero office upgrade as Old County Hall sold off
5 days ago

Phoenix subbies get pay less notices after ISG failure

Building services specialist tells suppliers they won't be getting paid
6 days ago

Midgard confirmed on £60m Golden Lane office contract

Main works will create 120,000 sq ft of prime office space on historic site
6 days ago

Van Elle buys Scottish specialist Albion Drilling for £3.5m

Acquisition builds capability in Scotland's booming energy sector
6 days ago

French PM and cost consultant Artelia buys Pick Everard

Artelia UK operations swell to nearly 1000 staff after bolting on UK consultant
6 days ago

Go-ahead for West London 58-storey resi skyscraper

North Acton scheme at Old Oak Common to form gateway to emerging cluster
1 week ago

Contractor services