Working with Italian additives supplier Iterchimica, the trial will involve resurfacing an existing road in Dartford, with the more durable Gipave asphalt product.

Gipave is a polymeric supermodifier containing graphene and a selected type of hard plastic.

Already tested on roads and airport runways in Italy, the enhanced asphalt will reduce the costs and requirement for maintenance, as well as reducing carbon emissions and the amount of disruption to road users.

In addition to the recycling of selected waste plastics, the asphalt containing Gipave can be entirely recycled.

David Ogden, business director at Amey, said: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to provide best value for our customers and their communities, so we’re delighted to be working with Iterchimica and our client, Kent County Council to trial this new product.

“Using this technology as part of our maintenance programmes could see us create more durable asphalt that could improve customer safety, the lifespan of our roads, as well as reducing impacts on journey time which brings with it many environmental and carbon reduction benefits.”

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said: “We’ll be trialling 350m of this new material on East Hill in Dartford, alongside a further 350m with traditional surfacing, and we very much look forward to seeing the results.

“Once work is complete on July 2, we’ll be closely monitoring the scheme to see how it holds up against traffic, the summer and the winter weather.

“We will also be carrying out laboratory testing to have a comparison against traditional materials.”