Rethinking road repairs

When it comes to road maintenance, there’s a cleaner, more sustainable way forward…and it’s already happening in parts of the UK.

Stabilised Pavements Limited (SPL), a UK leader in sustainable road construction, has been pioneering in-situ road recycling for over 25 years. This innovative technique rebuilds roads using the materials already in place, eliminating the need for carbon-intensive excavation, landfill, and material transport.

How does it work?

Instead of digging up and replacing road surfaces, in-situ recycling pulverises the existing road, blends it with specialist binders, and repurposes it into a strong new base. This removes the need to transport thousands of tonnes of stone and bitumen, which are both resource-heavy and expensive to produce and haul.

The result? Fewer lorry movements, less waste, lower carbon emissions, and reduced pressure on quarries and landfill sites, all while maintaining the integrity of the road network.

Real-world results

A recent SPL project on Forge Mill Lane in Cheshire showcases the power of this approach. By using in-situ recycling, the project saved 119 tonnes of carbon compared to traditional road reconstruction methods. It also avoided the use of newly quarried materials, helping protect the landscape and cut down transport emissions.

What can you do?

While this greener method is proven and available, it’s not yet widely adopted. You can help change that:

• Ask your local councillors whether in-situ recycling is part of the highways maintenance strategy.

• Raise it during planning consultations or local transport discussions.

• Encourage local authorities to trial it on rural or secondary roads.

• Spread the word to environment groups, infrastructure leads, and local media.

With greater public awareness and support, sustainable road maintenance could become the new normal, just like recycling at home once did.