New ALARM research reveals slow pace of decarbonisation

04/10/2024 | DOMINIC BROWNE

New ALARM research reveals slow pace of decarbonisation

Exclusive research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) and LCRIG in the annual ALARM survey has uncovered a wide gap between action and intention when it comes to decarbonising local road maintenance.

The results of a previously unreleased joint LCRIG/AIA section of this year's survey found that 90% of local authorities in England and Wales have a net zero pledge – with more than half of these giving 2030 as their target date.

However, only 11% reported that they had updated their highway asset management plan to include net zero principles and targets and only 6% had a target to reduce carbon from road surfacing materials.

Revealing the results at the LCRIG Strictly Highways conference this week, chair of the AIA David Giles (pictured) also highlighted 'another disconnect – between policy ambitions and the reality of managing the highway asset on a limited budget' when it came to low carbon materials.

He revealed that while warm mix asphalts (WMA) are on the specification list at the majority of local authorities in England, industry figures show that only around 5% of all asphalt manufactured is produced as warm mix, despite evidence that it can reduce the CO2 associated with asphalt production by up to 15%.

National Highways has adopted WMA as standard for the strategic network 'but take-up at a local authority level has been much slower,' Mr Giles said.

He added: 'A key part of the decarbonisation story is reducing the number of maintenance interventions by specifying more durable materials and 72% of those responding to the net zero asphalt ALARM section reported that they actively select materials with longer life.

'It is clear that enhancing the durability of materials reduces the number of maintenance interventions and minimises whole-life carbon emissions. Polymer modified bitumens, for example, are well known for extending the life of the asphalt and can also include recycled and biogenic content to help further reduce embodied CO2.'

Mr Giles accepted that there could be a conflict in the mind of engineers, with some specifying traditional hot rolled asphalt precisely because they thought it was more durable and so lower carbon over its lifetime.

The path to net zero section in ALARM also asked which net zero training areas would be most beneficial to help authorities achieve their decarbonisation aims.

The area that was ranked as the most important was 'materials innovation and how to select materials based on carbon impact'.

'The good news is we’ll be showcasing examples of this at our Sharing Best Practice event next month and you can find out more about that on the AIA website,' Mr Giles said.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Civil Enforcement Officers x 2

£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Parking Services are looking to recruit 2 full time Civil Enforcement Officers to complement its existing workforce. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Senior Street Cleanse Technician x 3 (CDC)

Grade 6 £25,981 - £26,815
We are about to embark on an ambitious programme of change in our city. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Development Officer

£37,280 - £40,777
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Development Management Co-ordinator. Gloucester
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Principal Highways Development Officer

£48,226 - £51,35
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Principal Development Management Co-ordinator . Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Street Lighting Project Engineer

PO2 - £41,442 to £44,331
Help us keep our streets safe, efficient and ready for the future Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW