Tarmac use EME2 for the first time in the Midlands
TARMAC have marked a first in the Midlands by resurfacing the M69 in Leicestershire with an innovative EME2 asphalt construction incorporating the latest thinking on enhanced durability.
The £6 million project – one of the first full-scale commercial uses of the product in the UK – was carried out by Tarmac as part of their Midlands Framework 3 contract with the Highways Agency.
EME (Enrobé a Module Élevé) was first developed in France and is becoming the preferred base and binder course material on the trunk road network because of its high strength and longevity.
Tarmac say they have built up a stand-alone design capability for EME at their technical centre, following a five-year development programme in conjunction with their binder supplier, Nynas.
EME2 uses a high content of hard bitumen binder combined with carefully graded aggregate to give stiffness and exceptional deformation resistance. The high content of binder delivers good resistance to fatigue and cracking, with the added benefits of workability and laying quality.
By working closely with the Highways Agency and Optima Infrastructure Management, Tarmac were able to have full occupation of the carriageway, allowing three pavers to work side by side laying the pavement in echelon.
This ensured an essentially joint-free construction with consistent compaction across the full width of the 11.1m carriageway, minimizing the chance of water ingress into the pavement structure.
The EME2 material used on the M69 was produced at Midland Quarry Products' Cliffe Hill and Whitwick sites, in Leicestershire, and laid by Tarmac National Contracting.
Commenting on the project, Colin Loveday, director of technology and quality at Tarmac, said: ‘Our roads should be built to last longer and we are putting in a lot of effort to extend the lifespan of asphalt.
‘Longer-lasting pavement solutions and more durable design are clearly the way forward and will pay dividends by reducing the frequency of road resurfacing in years to come. This is good on sustainability grounds and, by minimizing the need for future interventions, will reduce congestion for the road user.’
