Sustainability and Highway Surfacing Materials in the UK

This paper examines the implications for highway surfacing materials used in the United Kingdom within the wider aspirations of sustainability and the detailed context of minimising the risks in providing longer-term performance for a range of expected in-service characteristics. It traces the development of and specification for highway surfacing materials, drawing from substantial applied research experience. The paper addresses a range of issues being faced by the UK Highway Industry in meeting the ideals of sustainable highway construction, by considering factors arising from risk assessment, raw material availability and suitability, detailed issues of texture depth and early-life skidding resistance, short and long-term material performance and the essential integration of these technical and sustainability considerations.