Bituminous Pavements

Built to last

Modern asphalts roads, with a solid base course and protective replaceable wearing course, are now designed to last for over 40 years and with correct surface maintenance they can last even longer.

Noise reduction

Use of asphalt road surfaces can significantly reduce noise both inside and outside the car, preventing accidents by alleviating a source of stress that contributes to driver fatigue. After speed and alcohol abuse, driver fatigue is the next most frequent cause of accidents.

Standard asphalt roads have the lowest noise levels of the traditional road surfaces and the recent development of porous and silent asphalts have reduced noise levels even further. A standard asphalt surface produces half the noise generated by a standard concrete surface and porous asphalt reduces this by a further 50 per cent.

Surface water dispersal

New asphalt technology ensures rapid dispersal and drainage of surface water, reducing water spray and therefore improving visibility for the driver in wet conditions. The new porous asphalt materials dramatically reduce blinding spray and by dispersing surface water they also reduce the risk of aquaplaning and increase the visibility of road markings.

Skid resistance

Drainage and texture of the road surface are the two crucial elements that aid skid resistance. Much research has been dedicated to the removal of water and provision of vehicle tyre grip. The drainage capability of porous asphalts and precision in aggregate mix play a vital role in skid resistance.

Today’s asphalt surfaces have been developed to provide a skid resistant texture, without the need for protruding aggregates that contribute to traffic noise. They therefore also give the driver a smoother ride.

Asphalt surfaces that provide higher levels of skid resistance can be used where safety is paramount, for example, outside schools or where there are extreme road gradients or bends.

Easy maintenance - less traffic disruption

Asphalt roads can be easily opened and quickly reinstated to install or repair utilities. This speed in accessing water mains, gas pipes, or telephone cables is crucial in minimising the associated congestion and driver frustration.

Clearer lane marking with coloured asphalts

Another recent asphalt advance has been the development of coloured surfaces. These are increasingly used as a safety mechanism to make it easier for drivers to identify lanes set aside for special uses, such as bus lanes, bus stops and cycle paths. Coloured asphalt is also used to alert driver attention to dangerous areas such as hidden junctions or sharp bends.

Totally recyclable

Asphalt is 100 per cent recyclable and is routinely milled and re-laid along with fresh materials, saving money and preserving non-renewable natural resources.

Recycling also reduces the use of virgin quality gravel, preserves landfill and saves transport.

Versatile and flexible

Asphalt surfaces can be ‘tailor-made’ – appropriately formulated and designed to support the traffic load and climatic conditions of a specific road. There are asphalt solutions for motorways, urban, suburban and rural roads and its flexibility is particularly useful in coping with the stresses of large traffic loads on bridges.

In areas where roads have to cope with frequent freezing and thawing, thanks to the elasticity of bitumen, asphalt surfaces can be designed to tolerate extreme temperature cycles. Where studded tyres are used in cold climates, the maintenance advantages of asphalt are also critical.

After construction the flexibility of asphalt allows for easy surface improvement and road widening, as new requirements arise.