Heidelberg Materials partnered with GW Highways to design a durable asphalt made with 60% recycled material for use on a section of the A20 in the centre of Maidstone.
With the highest level of recycled asphalt used in Kent to date, the new mixture made use of a special additive in the 20mm binder course to soften the bitumen content. This allowed the joint team to increase the amount of recycled material used.
As Kent has no suitable aggregate for asphalt production – due to the geology of the area – this reduction in demand meant that the project was able to reduce its carbon footprint by minimising the amount of material that had to be transported to Maidstone from other counties by road, rail or sea. It also allowed Kent to manage its resources better through a circular economy, giving the county a more stable supply of materials.
Paul O'Neill, regional asphalt director at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: ‘This project is the first time we have supplied asphalt with 60% recycled content and its success demonstrates the opportunity to replicate it across the country.
‘Our partnership with GW Highways, as its preferred supplier in Kent, has created a culture of trust, which promotes innovation and drives sustainability and best value for the client.'
Herbert Micallef, technical director at GW Highways, added: ‘Collaborative working is one of our core values and this scheme is an excellent demonstration of that. We are now looking to build on its success by trialling a higher reclaimed asphalt content in surface course asphalt laid in the county.'
Byron Lovell, pavement asset engineering manager at Kent County Council, commented: ‘Reducing our reliance on primary aggregates is essential for both carbon reduction and long-term resilience in Kent. This project demonstrates how working closely with our partners can deliver real progress towards more sustainable highways.'
