A unique plastic road which aims to revolutionise the highways industry will be trialled for the first time in Cumbria.
The county council, working with Hanson and Shell, has been selected to carry out real world tests of the new product, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and create a more resilient road network.
Shell Bitumen’s LTR will be trialled for the first time in Europe this month with Cumbria County Council tomorrow on the A689 on the outskirts of Nenthead, one of England’s highest villages situated in the North Pennines.
The highways industry has significant environmental impact in terms of carbon footprint, use of oil-based products and the use of quarried material.
Cumbria County Council said it and its partners believed it was incumbent upon them as an industry to seek new and innovative ways to reduce environmental damage.
Richard Taylor, global technology development manager, said: “Shell Bitumen is delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of this trial using innovative new solutions.
“Our Shell Bitumen LTR binder uses a chemically modified waste plastic, which makes it compatible with bitumen and enables asphalt to be produced and installed at lower temperatures.
“As well as developing a beneficial use for plastic at the end of its life it also helps lower carbon emissions through reduced energy use during asphalt production”.
