The Department of Transport yesterday announced a £1.6 million trial of the plastic roads technology developed by MacRebur, who are based in Lockerbie.
Cumbria County Council have been awarded the monies to to carry out more trials using MacRebur’s award winning waste plastic pellets.
As part of the Live Lab project, research into the technology will be carried out by Gaist, as well as The University of Nottingham, University of Central Lancashire, University of the Sunshine Coast, in Australia and the University of California. And, a guidance document on the use of the plastic solution will be produced, along with an APP.
Announcing the funding for what he described as ‘emerging innovations’, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Potholes are the number one enemy for road users and this government is looking at numerous ways to keep our roads in the best condition. Today’s trials will see how new technologies work in the real world to ensure our roads are built for the 21st century.”
Meanwhile, MacRebur co-founder Toby McCartney said: “After two years of successful trials across UK, we are delighted that the DofT have recognised the use of waste plastics to produce asphalt enhancements in roads and given the go ahead with this funding to lay more roads across Cumbria. We hope that this will help other local authorities and asphalt manufacturers to join us in this new innovative revolution of road enhancement too.”
Cumbria was the first council in the UK to use the patented asphalt enhancement invented by MacRebur. Since then, the company’s products have also been laid in Dumfries and Galloway, Gloucester, London, Newcastle, Durham and in the Central Belt, as well as abroad in America, Bahrain, Slovakia, Australia, Turkey and New Zealand.
