Bradford Council is the first local authority in the region to lay a road surface that contains recycled tyres.
The used tyres would otherwise go to landfill or incineration, but have instead been granulated and used to replace cellulose fibres in the new surfacing, which is called Ultipave R.
Ultipave R., which is manufactured and trademarked by construction firm Tarmac, also has lower carbon emissions than traditional asphalt, as it is manufactured and supplied at lower temperatures, saving on average 3.5kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per tonne. It is approved for use on motorways and the strategic road network and also offers lasting texture and skid resistance for road users.
A section of Otley Road in Eldwick, between Warren Lane and Spring Lane, is the first in the region to have been resurfaced using the innovative product. Around 700 tonnes of the greener rubber asphalt was laid at the site by Bradford Council’s Highway Maintenance North team. Seven tonnes of recycled rubber were used – keeping 1,000 tyres out of landfill or incineration.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We have a duty to reduce waste and tackle climate change which is having a devastating effect on our planet.
“Using this innovative new product from Tarmac is a positive step in terms of decarbonising our operations.
“We will continue to work with suppliers and contractors to ensure that using materials like this becomes standard practice.”
Tarmac’s Ian Carr, senior technical manager for contracting, said: “We are delighted to have been working with Bradford Council over recent months to find a high-performing solution that meets road users’ needs but also, importantly, offers lower carbon emissions.
“It’s great to see the authority embrace innovative new products like this which deliver real benefits to both residents and the environment.”
