Lancashire’s highways team praised for low carbon commitment

Lancashire County Council has been recognised nationally for its commitment to sustainable working practices and carbon reduction in maintaining the county’s highways.

The council was awarded the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) prestigious Climate Action Award in recognition of their Highways Decarbonisation Strategy. The mission statement for the project is to achieve ‘Sustainability through Durability’, and part of this work is to use new lower carbon materials and techniques.

The news comes as innovative work on a lower carbon road resurfacing project in Skelmersdale has been completed. The project has included the use of an alternative Asphaltic Grouted Macadam process for the first time on a Lancashire highway.

The Council’s highways service has been working with contractor Miles Macadam to install the low carbon material to improve the road condition of Tan House Road roundabout, Skelmersdale.

This programme of resurfacing covers a total area of just under 3000m2 and was carried out using Miles Macadam’s ‘Milepave’ Asphaltic Grouted Macadam. It uses slower mixing temperatures and a lower bitumen content than conventional asphalt surfacing materials and has an asphaltic grout applied over the asphalt to minimise aggregate loss and joint failures, which are two of the most commonly seen defects on highly stressed areas such as roundabouts.

County Councillor Charlie Edwards, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Lancashire County Council said:

“We know how important it is for our roads to be well maintained and we do all we can to ensure that good quality surfaces are in place for all road users. Our approach in the Highways Decarbonisation Strategy is unique because it focusses on all aspects of the delivery of the highway maintenance function.

“This includes how we procure goods and services, the depots we use and the vehicles we drive as well as looking at low carbon methods for maintaining our roads.

“The methodology we have used is easily replicated across the sector and we are committed to sharing best practice and engaging with other Highway Authorities and industry partners.”

County Councillor Shaun Turner, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, added:

“I am delighted that we have been recognised for our pioneering low carbon work in highways, which is a key part of our plans to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change.

“We have ambitious targets for carbon reduction and this year in our carriageway capital programmes, we are predicted to save 332 tonnes of CO2 through using lower carbon processes.

“On the scheme in Skelmersdale alone, we have saved 6 tonnes of bitumen and 6 tonnes of carbon by using a material which should also increase durability and service life. Initiatives like this one allow us to continue with our important maintenance programmes, whilst reducing the impact on the environment.”

You can see a new video from the council explaining the Asphaltic Grouted Macadam process at https://youtu.be/KHc-Sy6Yvj8

For more information about how the county council maintain your roads, visit Lancashire.gov.uk/roads. You can also complete the annual online highways survey here to tell the council what you think of how they maintain roads in your area.