Heidelberg Materials UK has secured a 12-month highway maintenance framework with North Yorkshire Highways, supplying around 35,000 tonnes of asphalt.
The agreement, awarded following a competitive tender process, covers the maintenance and improvement of the county’s road network.
The first scheme delivered under the framework was the resurfacing of the High Street in Pateley Bridge, using a lower carbon asphalt solution incorporating Heidelberg’s CarbonLock biogenic asphalt, and locally sourced aggregate from its Coldstone quarry.
The asphalt was produced at the company’s Pateley Bridge plant, on the quarry site three miles from the High Street.
James Playford, area director for aggregates, asphalt and recycling at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “The project was technically challenging as cobbles lie under the asphalt in some areas and the High Street has a very steep gradient.
“As a result of the reduced planning depth, the binder course included our Tufflex stress absorbing membrane interlayer (SAMI) solution, to optimise durability. And, to provide the high skid resistance specified, the Tufflex D surface course included aggregates with a PSV (polished stone value) of 68.”
The resurfacing work was carried out at night to minimise disruption. Both the binder and surface course Tufflex asphalts include CarbonLock, which contains biogenic material within the binder that absorbs and stores CO2 from the atmosphere during its life – permanently locking the CO2 into the asphalt, including when it is recycled at the end of its life.
Ian Farley, asphalt territory sales manager at Heidelberg Materials UK, said: “North Yorkshire Highways was keen for us to supply the asphalt from our Pateley Bridge plant due to its proximity to the project site. As the plant is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), we sought approval from North Yorkshire Council to supply at night, outside of our usual permissive hours, rather than from our Leeds asphalt plant, 29 miles away.”
James Cox, head of commercial at North Yorkshire Highways, said: “Working closely with Heidelberg Materials UK throughout the development of the specification enabled us to explore a range of material options and identify a solution that met the technical requirements of the scheme. Their support and collaborative approach throughout the process helped ensure the project was delivered successfully.”
Main image: Resurfacing work in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire. Credit: Heidelberg Materials UK
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