The global road network is one of the largest systems ever built by man.
In the United States alone, the total length of roadway exceeds 6.6 million kilometres
- enough to circle the Earth 165 times.
While relatively simple to build as compared to other structures - like skyscrapers or
dams - the sheer scale of the global network makes road construction one of the largest
sources of material consumption on our planet.
While road types can vary greatly depending on their use, location and construction method
the majority are formed from crushed rock, sand and asphalt
in a process that releases
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.
In order to curb the environmental impact of road construction, a number of new innovations
are now being trialled.
Replacing some of the finite resources used in road construction with one of humanity’s
most notorious waste products - all whilst extending the lifespan of the roadway itself
- makes a lot of sense.
In India, the process of melting plastic to fill in potholes has been happening on a small
scale for a number of years.
British engineer, Toby McCartney, recognised the benefit of using plastic in roads while
travelling the country and developed a method of turning plastic bottles into small pellets
that could be added to an asphalt mix to increase its bulk.
McCartney’s solution has created roadways that are 60% stronger and last 10 times longer
than those built with conventional methods.
The UK county of Cumbria quickly noticed the benefits of this innovation and have adopted
the process for new public roads in the region.
Using 3-10 kilograms of waste plastic per tonne of asphalt - and with roughly 10 tonnes
of asphalt used in every kilometre of roadway construction - this process has the potential
to lock-up a considerable amount of waste material that could otherwise end-up in landfill
or our oceans.
Taking things a step further, Dutch company KWS, together with Wavin and Total, have developed
PlasticRoad; a prefabricated, modular roadway made from recycled plastic.
The product’s anticipated lifespan is three times longer than that of a normal road build-up.
It’s also four times lighter and can be constructed 70% faster than a traditional
asphalt roadway.
PlasticRoad’s hollow design allows service pipes and cables to be fed through its road
deck without the need for extensive digging.
Some of the space can also be used to store
excess water during storms.
With a number of trial projects now planned - including this bike path in the Netherlands,
which opened in September 2018 - you could see prefabricated plastic roads on a street
near you in the not too distant future.
Incorporating solar panels directly into the road network has the potential to turn an
otherwise static piece of infrastructure into a major source of renewable energy production.
Companies such as Solar Roadways in the United States, Wattway in France and SolaRoad in
the Netherlands have all developed prototype systems that are durable enough to withstand
traffic loads and the elements.
While the concept may sound advantageous, critics have raised a number of concerns around
this new type of roadway - including the safety of vehicles driving over the toughened glass
or silica that is required to protect the photovoltaic elements,
and how effective horizontal
solar panels can be as compared to those positioned diagonally on roofs.
Several pilot schemes are now underway, seeking to overcome these challenges.
With a drive to reduce pollution, recycle plastic and construct a more sustainable built
environment, innovative solutions like these could make a significant difference when applied
to something as vast as the global road network.
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