Dorset’s highway fixers are back in action and now producing fifteen per cent less emissions!
For the first time, this year will see Dorset Council using low energy asphalt (LEA) on all resurfacing schemes, and as a surface course on new construction projects such as cycleways.
The material is produced 30 to 40 degrees lower than conventional material, which is usually produced at 180 degrees. This reduced heat results in 15% less carbon emissions during the production process.
Although widely used in America and France, low energy asphalt is much less common in the UK.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“Following two successful resurfacing schemes trialling LEA here in Dorset, we’ve been very keen for mass-production of the material at the regional quarry, Whatley. Working closely with our private sector partner Hanson UK this has become a reality.
“The quality of the lower energy material is not affected by the temperature difference. It helps reduce our carbon footprint and it’s actually easier to keep at temperature during transport due to the lower production temperature.
“We know that construction activity is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions, and we will continue to look for new ways of working to reduce the impact we have on our environment.”
Dorset Highways currently uses LEA in the lower and middle layers (base and binder) of road construction, with these containing 30 per cent recycled material too.
From July, low energy material will also be used for the surface course (top layer).
Between April and September, 37 schemes will be resurfaced as part of the annual structural maintenance programme.
Excellent news well done all
thats joke using something else than the rubbish you have been putting down as it is supposedly greener this will only last half the time you really do take the biscuit well were not all as stupid as you think
if it is cheaper well done
if it is more expencive it is a bad idea
Hi Terry, no difference in cost 🙂
How does LEA asphalt react to road surface temperatures which at present are probably in region of 60-70 C. what prevents softening and corruption of the wearing course resulting in surfaces like Rowlands Hill roundabout in Wimborne, which I am grateful to see and feel has been completely resurfaced after prob 20 years of being like the foothills of the Alps.
Hi L. Bishop, through research and development Hanson have designed the mix to cope with our seasonal variations in weather conditions. Although not common, it has been used successfully elsewhere in the UK for a number of years.
Is this surfacing material as quiet for tyre noise as that in use in previous years? For example, the section of Weymouth’s Dorchester Road resurfaced next to the the traffic calming in Upwey is so super-quiet in my little EV that it was a big eye-opener as to what is possible! I hope that’s the future, as far as environmental impact goes…
Hi Chris, thanks for your comments. Our technical experts at Hanson have assured us that there is no difference in the noise between LEA and conventional hot material 🙂
This is a start and I like the phrase ‘greener highways’ . I do think our highways would be a lot greener if the verges were left in mown. Less energy used by the machinery too!
LEA —-Good idea unless it also melts at a lower temperature on our roads in the summer sunshine ? !
Hi Chris, through research and development Hanson have designed the mix to cope with our seasonal variations in weather conditions.
The low temperature doesn’t have any impact on the melting point of the material.
Can you please provide more info on the proposed footway surfacing ( imprint) in terms of cost difference to convection bitumen surfacing material?
Hi Ayad, I’ll ask the project team for some details and get back to you.