Derbyshire Launches New Road Repair Material Trial
Derbyshire County Council has started a trial of a new pothole repairing material as a possible additional option to improve local roads.
The council is using Roadmender Asphalt which is produced nearby in Sheffield. The repair material has a high recycled rubber content (from old HGV tyres) and is more elastic than traditional asphalt. This means it can be applied directly onto roads in need of repair as a new protective road surface where potholes or cracking damage have previously occurred.
Using this method means there’s no need to dig out the road or to seal the edges as it acts as a sealant and binds to the existing road surface, leaving a new waterproof top layer.
The Roadmender Asphalt is heated up on site as needed and then applied as a quick-setting molten liquid. The council expects this will lead to less disruption for road users as the process can be done in less than half an hour on site, avoiding the need for longer traffic management or road closures.
It’s also good for the environment and the council’s carbon footprint as there’s no waste from digging out the road (even the marking tape and product bags can be reused back into the boiler) and the recycled lorry tyres and asphalt used in the material means less landfill too.
Over the next few months, the county council intend to test it out in different areas, such as at junctions, pothole hotspots and areas that are starting to deteriorate before they need full resurfacing.
It will also be used on a mix of main roads, roundabouts, rural roads and housing estate roads to assess its performance across all types or roads in the county.
The trial has started in Dronfield and Chesterfield with some of the highways team being trained in how to use the product by the manufacturers. The council will also extend the trail to other areas over the coming months, to provide a good comparison on which areas it might work best.
Councillor Charlotte Cupit, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, commented, “It’s exciting to be bringing this new material to Derbyshire’s roads. Over the last few months we’ve been to see other areas that have started using it as well as the factory where it’s made, so it’s good to now be able to try it out across the different parts of our county. Let us know what you think if you see it near you.
“Thank you to the crew who are getting to grips with this new material, but also to all our highways teams who have continued to work on one of the biggest road repairs and resurfacing programmes we’ve ever done following the challenges of last winter. Hopefully Roadmender will be another tool we can use to improve our roads.
“Whilst it’s right to harness new technology for road repairs and to be as efficient as possible, we also continue to push both the new regional mayor and government for the funding needed to maintain roads across the county and country. That would enable us to accelerate proactive programmes such as this.”
Photos of the Roadmender machine being used, and examples of where it has been used.
More News From Amber Valley Info
| Salcare Calls for Urgent Support as Food Donations Drop Ahead of Winter Salcare, the Heanor-based charity supporting vulnerable people across Amber Valley, is appealing for urgent c read more | |
| Warm and welcoming spaces grant fund now open for application Community groups across Derbyshire are being invited to apply for funding to set up warm and welcoming spaces to help l read more | |
| Extensive Repairs Now Completed At Iconic Heage Windmill Heage Windmill, the last working stone tower six-sailed windmill in Britain and the only working windmill in Derbyshire prod read more | |
| Ambergate Vauxhall cars event September 28th Sunday September 28th sees the Great British Car Journey at Derwent Works, Ambergate, DE56 2HE, host the great cars from Luton. From a P read more | |
| Ambergate sales Reps cars event September 21st Sunday September 21st sees the Great British Car Journey at Derwent Works, Ambergate, DE56 2HE, host cars from the days of the sales r read more | |
The Amber Valley Info Noticeboard
| Launch Of WOMBLE MANIA! At the Heights of Abraham, Opened by Marcus Robertson, Son of Wombles author, Elisabeth Beresford, officially launched WOMBLE MANIA! at the Heights of Abraha read more | |
| Belper School and Sixth Form Centre Closed Today Due to a significant water leak, resulting in the water being turned off at school, we unfortunately have to close the school today. read more | |
| When you need to call 999 but can't talk When you need to call 999 but can't talk - the ‘silent solution’ can help. Press 55 on your mobile when prompted, to confirm you are in read more | |
| The opening night of the Lights of Abraham Winter Lights Trail The brand new winter lights trail, the 'Lights of Abraham' opened on Friday 22nd November at the Heights of Abraham in read more | |
| Can You Help DREAM Paranormal With Their Research My name is Simon Dean, Lead Investigator of DREAM paranormal and I am looking for your help. read more | |
