Greener road trial

Kialla Lakes Drive was a good test case for Shepparton’s recycled road trial.

The new trial method incorporated the use of recycled glass and reclaimed asphalt pavement amalgamating it into the asphalt base layer. 

Kialla Lakes Drive was chosen due to its condition and high traffic usage of over 7000 vehicles per day being a good test case. 

The asphalt re-construction cost approximately $340,000 with no additional costs incurred by using recycled materials. 

The trial included laying 925 tonnes of asphalt with a combined recycled value of 16 percent. 

The recycled product utilized is the equivalent of 352,000 recycled glass bottles. 

Greater Shepparton City Council Director Infrastructure, Phil Hoare, said, “Council is excited about the new trial location for the recycled asphalt, the process is also very impressive with recycled materials being sorted, ground down and blended into the asphalt at the plant. 

“Incorporating recycled glass sand into the base layer makes sense, using a waste product, recycling it to renew a road, it’s better for the environment. 

“We are very keen to explore every option we have to increase recycling and reuse of waste products that would otherwise go to landfill it just make sense and is something we will expand.”