Nathan Thomas (Neighbourhood Manager – Highway Maintenance for Vale of Glamorgan Council) sat down with Matthew Morgan (Business Development Manager for Miles Macadam) to discuss the recent net zero resurfacing scheme on Skomer Road in Barry. Nathan went into detail about the council’s carbon goals and how this relates to their highway maintenance programmes:
What is Vale of Glamorgan’s strategy for carbon reduction?
The VoGC have committed to Net Zero Carbon by 2030 in its own operations, and a Net Zero Carbon by 2050 across the wider Vale community. We have a Project Zero programme in place that brings together a wide range of work and opportunities to tackle the climate emergency, reduce the Council’s carbon emissions and encourage others to make positive changes.
What are the biggest challenges your highways team faces in achieving carbon reduction goals?
Traditional road resurfacing methods have always generated carbon during processing down to laying the product and capturing the carbon used is possibly now far easier than ever with various different calculators. The challenge for me as HM manager is that once we have this baseline date, how do we improve on that by looking at alternatives whilst not compromising on the life expectancy of the material.
For the Council, it is crucial that our highway spaces continue to change and adapt to prioritize active travel, cycling and public transport as we support the move to decarbonize transport more generally.
How crucial is innovation within your supply chain partnerships to the Vale of Glamorgan Council?
Our carbon emission reports show us that our supply chain still makes up the highest proportion of emissions, so innovation in this area is critical. It’s great to see contractors investing in decarbonizing their fleet, facilities, and ways of working, and testing working with products that reduce the reliance on virgin materials and fossil fuels. We are keen to work with others embracing the circular economy.
Can you tell us how the collaboration between Vale of Glamorgan and Miles Macadam began?
I’ve worked with Miles Macadam some 15 years ago in a previous role at another Council, so I was aware of them as a contractor, however since that time Miles Macadam has been working hard to change for the future. They are well aware of the difficulties highway maintenance teams across the UK face and have worked closely with Asphalt Plant in Cardiff to create this biochar material, using the waste product from the steel plant and saving it from landfill.
I follow Miles Macadam on LinkedIn and have seen their recent works and we opened up discussion on how we could work together to meet some of the Council’s targets.
What were the specific engineering requirements for Skomer Road? What issues needed to be addressed during its repair?
This location was recently assessed and scored using our Cabinet approved scoring matrix. That assessment looks at the current condition from scanner data, the overall condition and how much small scale carriageway patches we’ve had to carry out over a set period for example. The site scored high enough to warrant the works within the limited budget for this financial year and therefore this site was chosen for trial. In addition to this, Skomer Road has embedded new / upgraded active travel routes, improved drainage solutions and dropped kerb arrangements to assist with improved accessibility.
Matthew discussed Miles Macadam’s innovative net zero resurfacing material Biopave™, used to resurface the road and how it achieved a carbon zero footprint:
What is a grouted macadam?
A Grouted macadam is a type of road surfacing material that combines crushed stone aggregates with a binding cementitious or asphaltic grout to create a durable and stable surface course. This innovative construction method involves filling the voids between the aggregates with the grout, enhancing the overall strength, stability, and water resistance of the road. Specifically, Biopave™ is an asphaltic grouted macadam with significant durability in comparison to conventional surfacing materials, this reduces maintenance needs and lifecycle cost. The incorporation of recycled materials contributes to a more sustainable approach in road construction.
In what way does Biopave™ help local authorities to reduce their carbon emissions?
Biopave™ helps local authorities reduce their carbon emissions in several ways:
- Lower Carbon Footprint: Biopave™ is designed to have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to conventional road surfacing materials. Its production process uses fewer resources and less energy, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduced Bitumen Content: The formulation of Biopave™ typically includes less bitumen, a major contributor to carbon emissions in traditional asphalt production.
- Sustainable Materials: Biopave™ can incorporate recycled materials, such as steel slag, which further reduces the need for virgin materials and decreases emissions linked to extraction and transportation.
- Durability and Longevity: The durability of Biopave™ means that roads require less frequent maintenance and resurfacing, leading to lower emissions from construction activities over time. A longer lifespan also means reduced material usage in the long run.
What were the important factors in the planning of this scheme?
The scheme was implemented using a restricted hours daytime closure to minimise disruption for both local schools and residents. By scheduling the work during specific hours, the council aimed to reduce the impact of construction activities on the daily routines of families and students. Furthermore, by limiting the working hours, the scheme aimed to create a safer environment for students and pedestrians in the area, as there would be fewer construction vehicles and workers present during peak school hours.
What are the carbon savings when using Milepave in comparison to a conventional material?
Biopave™ is an innovative surfacing system developed to markedly decrease the environmental impact of road construction and maintenance. It integrates Biochar into the base layer and grout, effectively capturing carbon within the road surface and preventing its release into the atmosphere. As a carbon neutral grouted macadam, utilising Biopave™ means the carbon footprint of this scheme would be zero. Additionally, there was a saving of 266 tonnes in virgin aggregates by utilising Welsh steel slag material and a 14.13 tCO₂e (tonnes of embodied carbon) saving over a traditional surface course.
Biopave™ has provided the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the residents of Skomer Road with a durable, sustainable surface and have helped facilitate the council’s effort towards achieving their carbon goals.