Eurovia warm-mix asphalt for roads in Essex

Company’s integrated approach delivers carbon-reducing surfacing solution for Essex Highways

WORKING together to continually review and develop products, processes and services as part of their commitment to reduce their carbon footprint, Eurovia have been drawing on expertise from across the organization to deliver their low-temperature asphalt binder course on the Essex Highways network.

Although warm-mix asphalt has been around for some time, Eurovia say the climate impact commitment from local authorities is now driving the need for it to be the material of choice on highways.

Following an APPG guidance document, which reinforced and further supported the use of warm-mix products, Essex Highways challenged its supply chain to pursue innovative products and services to improve sustainability in the county.

Tempera is the warm-mix product being rolled out on the Essex Highways network by Eurovia Surfacing. Manufactured by Eurovia Roadstone, an additive allows the product to work at a lower temperature than traditional materials – it is typically supplied at temperatures 40°C lower than a hot equivalent.

Tempera requires less energy and generates fewer carbon emissions during manufacture than conventional hot-mix asphalts, delivering carbon savings of up to 25%.

However, the product’s green credentials go beyond the manufacturing process. Because materials arrive on site at a lower temperature, the Eurovia Surfacing teams can complete the work in less time, as well as reopen roads more quickly.

The lower temperature also reduces fumes on site and makes the material safer to handle. It also produces less steam during installation, so there are fewer visibility issues, particularly when it rains.

Eurovia say this approach forms part of their wider carbon-reduction strategy, with a goal to reduce overall emissions by 40% by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The reduced temperatures throughout the process significantly decrease age-hardening, which maintains the material’s durability and improves its long-term performance.

To date, Eurovia Surfacing have laid in excess of 3,500 tonnes of warm asphalt across the highways in Essex during the COVID-19 lockdown. Because of reduced traffic on the roads, the team have been able to mobilize and accelerate the resurfacing programme.

According to the company, volumes are continuing to increase and plans are afoot to introduce low-temperature technology into a wider palette of asphalt materials in the coming months.

The roll out of Tempera has been facilitated through the Materials Innovation Group involving Essex County Council, Essex Highways, Eurovia and other supply chain partners.

Simon Moroney, Eurovia Roadstone’s divisional director, said: ‘We are committed to creating a greener future and are using cutting-edge technology, combined with the skills and expertise of our Technical Centre, to continually improve our products that support this.

‘In the coming months, we will be developing our range of warm-mix asphalt designs, so that we can provide the whole suite of structural layers with a Tempera solution. We are working towards a future where warm mix becomes the go-to product for all road surfacing.’

Paul Kidd, Eurovia Surfacing’s technical director, added: ‘Providing integrated solutions is a key part of Eurovia’s offer and we are embracing the opportunity to pursue and fast-track initiatives such as using warm asphalt for Essex Highways.

‘Not only can we can deliver projects from product development through to installation with our in-house teams, but we can also implement innovations throughout the process to reduce both our own, and our clients’ carbon footprints.’