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    UK road resurfacing trial achieves 75% carbon emission reduction
    United Kingdom

    UK road resurfacing trial achieves 75% carbon emission reduction

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    1. Wagamaga on

      The UK has set a new benchmark in sustainable road construction with the A64 trial resurfacing, achieving a 75% reduction in carbon emissions.

      This project, a collaboration between Tarmac, a sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, and National Highways, along with its supply chain partners, avoids the use of carbon offsetting.

      The initiative was implemented on a 1.5-mile stretch of the A64 eastbound carriageway at junction 44 near Bramham, North Yorkshire.

      Over seven days, the team utilised an array of innovative approaches, including low-carbon materials and advanced paving technology, to realise more than 260 tonnes of carbon savings.

      A significant portion of this carbon reduction, 41.3%, was attained through the use of low-carbon raw materials. Transport and paving processes, which incorporated electric plant equipment, contributed a 14.7% reduction, and sustainable manufacturing techniques accounted for 44%.

      The project featured the use of warm mix asphalt and a novel ‘carbon sink’ biocomponent binder from Shell, which effectively captured carbon within the road infrastructure.

    3. Gingrpenguin on

      So is this actually green or is it like disealgate where it’s only green if you look at a specific emition and ignore everything else?

    4. BestButtons on

      Brilliant news. This is kind of real advancement instead of common gimmick of “carbon offsets and credits” companies use. We need more of this in all types of construction and production to make real difference.

    5. no_com_ment on

      LOL!! Obviously you get 75% less emissions if you do 75% less work!! Lmaoo how many roads been resurfaced around you guys??!!

      Edit: I get it guys!! Should have put the /s at the end of my comment

    6. Historical_Cobbler on

      And what about product longevity? If it’s greater then brilliant, but less then it’s moot.

      Most of the road emissions must surely be the amount of times a road is redone.

    7. Baslifico on

      What total bollocks.

      Tarmac/asphalt is already one of the most recycled materials on the planet. (Scrape it up, warm it up, tweak the mix and re-lay it for a brand new road surface).

      > The project featured the use of warm mix asphalt and a novel ‘carbon sink’ biocomponent binder from Shell, which effectively captured carbon within the road infrastructure.

      Ah yes… So either it’ll hold carbon until it’s recycled and resurfaced so a short-term fix OR it’ll retain indefinitely meaning you can do this once per road, ever.

    8. Silly_Triker on

      It’ll probably take a long time before this method finds its way outside of trials or special projects, for cost reasons. But you gotta start somewhere

    9. TerminalHopes on

      Does that mean that the generally horrific state of Britain’s roads will improve? Potholes on every major motorway, extremely poor quality repairs done (when done at all)…

    10. spank_monkey_83 on

      So the TM crews weren’t allowed to keep their diesel engines running all night to stay toasty warm

    11. DoneItDuncan on

      Would be nice to know how this fits in bigger picture – like for the entire carbon footprint of a section of road over a 10 year period, including use and maintenance, how much could this reduce it by?

      My gut says probably not really that much.

    12. earth-calling-karma on

      That’s like, one Ryanair to Málaga’s worth. You know it’s BS because Shell is involved and they exist to sell oil.

    13. ragewind on

      Ahh yes Tarmac the petrochemical product that degrades, entering the soil and water ways and will need repairs and resurfacing regularly, is now green….

      There are roads of 1930’s homes by me, with there built in 1930’s concrete road. That has handled a regular bus route load for all that time that will by the look of it need resurfacing in maybe another 40 years, not in favour with the shareholders through

    14. O-bot54 on

      And how much more expensive is this method . The uks roads and infrastructure need a COMPLETE overhaul country wide … id rather we find a cost effective but high quality solution over emissions .

    15. OriginUnknown82 on

      Will this new road surface fall appart 0.1 seconds after its been laid like normal roads?

    16. londons_explorer on

      > a collaboration between Tarmac, a sustainable building materials and construction solutions business, and National Highways

      No, Tarmac is a company that makes tarmac, a brand of asphalt used for making roads.

      You are not a “construction solutions business”, no matter how much that MBA with powerpoint says so…

    17. Key_Reserve_5991 on

      How will digging up the same stretch of road multiple times to fix poor quality repairs factor into this?

    18. ScaredyCatUK on

      Typical Labour, 75% reduction, pffft. The Tories managed to get it to 100% by not actally funding any repairs.

      Amateurs.

    19. ra246 on

      And tell me, is the surface actually decent? Or maybe they’ve reduced the emissions by 75% by not doing 75% of the fucking job. That’s how it seems to be achieved in Lincolnshire.

    20. logicalGOOSE_ on

      Is the trial a reduction in how often roads are resurfaced?

      Roads around my way are TERRIBLE and will only get worse if we see any cold snaps.

    23. Danqazmlp0 on

      Fantastic news. This is what needs doing in many fields. Tests and experiments done, looking at a whole range of things in one go.

    24. AtMan6798 on

      Well that’s good, gives them plenty of wiggle room as they’ll be up having to do it two or three times more in the space of five years!