“More innovation that helps solve the pothole crisis in the UK should be welcomed, but the industry needs to be aware that there are already surface treatments available that can deliver the same outcomes.”
These are the thoughts of Mike Hansford, Chief Executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), who was responding to news from Swansea University about a research project claiming that roads could ‘self-heal’ as a result of its findings.
Mr Hansford said: “The highways industry always encourages innovation to improve our materials and processes. Especially if they are going to reduce the formation of future potholes. And the concept of a road healing itself seems very exciting.
“Whilst this study is developed and scaled into wider scale adoption, there are already preventative treatments available that penetrate into the asphalt, and carry out a very similar process. These treatments keep roads in good condition for longer. And these can be followed up with multiple repeat treatments.”
Rejuvenation treatments for example, penetrates into the asphalt, restoring the chemical elements lost in the bitumen through the aging and oxidation processes, strengthening the aggregate bond and rejuvenating the bitumen. This prevents the formation of surface cracks (which leads to potholes), keeping the asphalt in good condition for longer.
A road in Norfolk has 20 years of having been treated with a rejuvenation product and is still performing well.
Similarly preservation treatments penetrate into the asphalt material, sealing micro-cracks and interconnecting voids, and locks in lighter oils and fractions which are essential to retain both the flexibility and cohesiveness of the existing asphalt mortar. This treatment also acts as a barrier to the effects of weathering, UV light and trafficking, which break down the asphalt. Again, this treatment prevents the formation of surface cracks and keeps the road in good condition for longer.
The M40 is an example of a road having been treated with preservation every five years since 2002, to keep the asphalt in good condition.
For roads showing some signs of minor deterioration Surface dressing and micro surfacing will seal the road surface, but some areas may require localised crack/joint or patch repairs first, prior to application.
Mr Hansford added: “We look forward to hearing more about this self-healing roads project, as a potential future solution to pothole prevention.”
