Chinnor to pilot low-carbon approach to road resurfacing

A scheme to resurface a stretch of the B4445 will pilot a unique package of low-carbon materials expected to save over 30 tonnes of CO2 while improving the road’s performance.

Next week, the project will replace the existing carriageway surface and road markings. It will also include verge clearance and drainage repairs and improvements.

The scheme has been developed by Oxfordshire County Council and its highways contactor M Group in close collaboration with industry-leading highways and low-carbon materials specialists.

It brings together five complementary innovations, which collectively are expected to reduce embodied carbon emissions by more than 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared with conventional resurfacing.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to bring together several industry-leading innovations within a single scheme and better understand how they can help us reduce carbon emissions from highway maintenance.

“Importantly, the trial is about more than carbon reduction alone. We are also exploring how these technologies can improve durability, reduce future maintenance requirements and support better long-term outcomes for Oxfordshire's road network.”

The largest single carbon saving is expected to come through replacing a conventional asphalt binder course with a bespoke mix of Breedon’s ACLA Net Zero Binder Course that has been specifically developed for this scheme.

The innovations have also been chosen for their ability to improve construction quality, enhance long-term durability and support biodiversity. These include:

• The use of Breedon's ACLA net zero binder course, a lower-carbon asphalt material that is expected to deliver the largest carbon saving within the scheme.
• Shell Cariphalte Ultra Carbon Sink Polymer Modified Bitumen, which combines carbon reduction benefits with enhanced pavement durability.
• Thermal Joint Heating technology to improve the quality and longevity of asphalt joints.
• Cold-applied MMA road markings, to be delivered by Wilson & Scott Highways which significantly reduce installation emissions compared with conventional thermoplastic markings.
• A biodiversity enhancement programme, including the creation of habitat features using suitable site-won materials.
• Solar powered welfare cabins and high-tech traffic management to reduce resource requirements, provided by TSM Ltd
• Use of electric plant by sub-contractors Breedon and DJT.

Richard Lovewell, M Group’s Business Director said: “M Group is proud to be working with Oxfordshire County Council to pioneer new approaches to carbon reduction.

“This is much more than a change in material use: by working in alliance with our supply chain partners Breedon, DJT, TSM and Wilson & Scott we are combining a range of lower carbon materials, plant and equipment, welfare cabins, traffic management innovation and techniques within one project. This enables us to evaluate how they perform together in real-world conditions and generate learning that could influence future schemes across the industry.”

To enable the work to be carried out safely, the road will be closed in three phases:

• Phase 1: Monday 21 September to Friday 25 September: Full road closure to allow verge clearance, drainage repairs and resurfacing preparation works.
• Phase 2: Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October: Full road closure to enable carriageway resurfacing and the replacement of road markings.
• Phase 3: Monday 5 October to Wednesday 7 October: Full road closure to complete drainage improvements and verge reinstatement.

A signed diversion route will be in place throughout the closures, and the road will be reopened whenever it is safe to do so outside these periods. Staff will be positioned at either end of the closure to assist residents, pedestrians, cyclists and motorists and to help maintain the safety of both the workforce and the travelling public.

More information is available on the highways maintenance page of Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

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