The Victorian government is using a ‘state of the art’ technique to recycle roads on its Big Build upgrade projects
A foamed bitumen process is being used on Victorian Big Build upgrade projects to achieve efficiencies, while improving the state’s roads.
Currently being used on the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade in Doreen, the process involves milling old roadway to rubble then mixing in foamed bitumen – created by injecting air and water into hot bitumen.
The mixed materials produce a durable, flexible road pavement with properties like asphalt, Victoria’s Big Build says.
By doing this, old road materials don’t need to be removed and there is less reliance on new materials, which has reduced machinery movements and therefore decreased construction times, Victoria’s Big Build says.
The foamed bitumen’s durability has also enabled operators to reduce the thickness of the roadway’s top layer of asphalt pavement – leading to further savings.
Along with the efficiencies achieved, recycling the old road has decreased the reliance on landfill, virgin materials and quarrying, Victoria’s Big Build adds.
The process also produces less dust, allowing savings on water where it may otherwise be required for dust-suppression activities.
The use of the foamed bitumen aligns with the Victorian Government’s Recycled First policy – which requires construction companies to demonstrate how they will optimise the use of recycled materials on state transport projects.
In addition to the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade in Doreen, foamed bitumen has been used on the Sunbury Road Upgrade between Sunbury and Bulla, and previously on the Golf Links Road Upgrade in Langwarrin South.
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