In an Australian first, Ararat Rural City Council has tested new road sealing technology using a circular road solution to enhance road efficiency within the community. This method uses recycled tire rubber as a modifier for bitumen binder and a substitute for traditional aggregates, significantly advancing sustainable road construction practices. This approach could increase the use of waste tires on rural roads by tenfold.

The Council's adoption of a Graded Aggregate Seal (GAS) has shown benefits like improved road durability, reduced maintenance needs, and the elimination of dust emissions for local landowners. Collaborating with Inroads, a bituminous pavement firm, Ararat implemented this technique on a 500-meter stretch of Garden Gully Road. This method blends waste tire chips directly with quarry aggregates to form the road surface, using 12 tonnes of rubber crumb and chips and diverting 2000 tires from landfill.

Tyre chips sourced from a Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) accredited recycler in Victoria were rigorously tested for compatibility with hot bitumen and durability. Initial tests confirmed excellent bitumen adhesion and wear resistance when combined with virgin aggregate from Western Quarries in Ararat.

Inroads has applied for TSA funding to extend this sustainable road treatment to an additional 2km of gravel roads in 2024, promoting wider adoption across Western Victoria.

“Council’s new road seal trials epitomise the efficiency and community benefit we aim for with all infrastructure improvements,” said Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr. Tim Harrison. “It promotes environmental stewardship by repurposing waste resources tenfold and underscores our commitment to sustainable development."

To find out more about this innovative road sealing technology and its potential impact, read the full article.