ETRA has long been a proponent of rubberised asphalt, and has repeatedly shown the benefits to the highways sector, this year’s conference looks at rubberised asphalt on cycle paths
263 million tonnes of hot and warm mix asphalt were produced in 2024 in EU-27 plus Great Britain, Iceland, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey.
In Europe, roads in urban areas account for 20.1% of the total road network by length, which are travelled by the above mentioned 67,5% of the population. This heavy usage leads to significant wear and tear on asphalt, necessitating frequent and costly maintenance.
In many countries the cycling infrastructure has been more and more integrated and better organised, valorising existing networks and expanding through new investments.
The ratio of extended cycling infrastructure to public roads is an indicator of road coverage by cycling infrastructure. This ratio varies across countries and cities, typically ranging from approximately 2% to 25%. The extended cycling infrastructure used in the numerator included: cycle tracks, cycle and pedestrian tracks, cycle lanes, limited access roads, bus lanes and cycle streets. The length of the road network used in the denominator is calculated by adding main roads and local roads. The local roads were selected using the following tags: residential, living street, unclassified.
The ratio is an alternative estimate of completeness of the cycle network, and provides a rough but effective idea of the extension of the cycling networks and the potential market for paving materials and techniques.
Used in cycling infrastructures recycled tyre materials (RTMs) may contribute to realise more durable and performing surfaces, valorising high quality recycled materials, and reducing the depletion of natural resources.
What these projects have in common is their collaboration to develop and promote more sustainable infrastructure and mobility solutions. A key role will be played by the use of innovative and sustainable technologies, also made possible through RTMs.
The SMILE CITY Project, engages both citizens and industrial leaders in the green transition towards climate-neutral solutions for Circular Cities developing Circular Systemic Solutions with intensive use of recycled materials, in cycling lanes and Infrastructures.
RE-PLAN CITY LIFE is the project aiming to raise awareness among Technicians of P.A., stakeholders, policymakers on the use of recycled tyre materials (RTMs) in transport infrastructure building, urban areas and Sport Infrastructures. The RE-PLAN CITY LIFE project promotes environmentally friendly behaviours in urban communities, stimulates the adoption of Circular Economy best practices, and creates further opportunities of cooperation and implementation through new projects.
The projects aim to expand the use of RTM to improve the performance and the sustainability of transport infrastructure, and are cooperating to create more opportunities of dissemination and networking.
Scope of the Workshop is to:
– Describe and analyse the Pilot Demosite selected by the P.A.s of Smile City Project
– Discuss the main issues and how they can be addressed
– Propose asphalt mix recipes with RTMs and explain how they can be produced and applied
– Plan the Urban Living Lab (ULL) onsite visits and training of SMILE CITY
– Present new projects opportunities for ongoing training and further development
