The Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage 1 project in Melbourne is the first to use a new low-carbon concrete mix
The new low-carbon mix uses specially treated waste clay as a replacement for some of the cement binder in concrete, leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions.
The project team poured the first 5 cubic metres of the mix in a maintenance strip in October, marking an Australian-first for transport infrastructure projects.
Up to 100 cubic metres of the low-carbon mix is intended for use on Stage 1 of the upgrade, on Mickleham Road in Greenvale.
Major Road Projects Victoria, University of Melbourne and companies Arup and Hanson Australia developed the mix in a joint project that successfully replaced concrete’s cement binder with up to 30 per cent calcined clay.
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Calcined clays are produced by heating certain types of clay to high temperatures, altering their chemical structure so they can partially replace cement in concrete.
Importantly, the production of calcined clay for the Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage 1 resulted in approximately 50 per cent fewer CO2 emissions than cement.
The Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage 1 is adding lanes in each direction between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard.
As part of Stage 1, the roundabout at Somerton and Mickleham roads will be replaced with a new traffic light intersection, including priority bus lanes, to better-manage traffic flow. Intersection upgrades at Lemonwood Drive, Greenvale Gardens Boulevard and Dellamore Boulevard are now complete, with further upgrades to take place at Hillview Road and Blossom Drive.