Asphalt is one of the world’s most popular pavement materials. Because of that, researchers and scientists are constantly looking for ways to improve upon it. Additives have been included in some asphalt mixes for years to improve strength, but recently researchers have been getting pretty clever with the types of additives they’re testing.
Read morePlastic Roads Could Reduce Pot Holes, Reduce Landfill Waste
There’s no shortage of company’s trying to improve the world’s roadways. Asphalt and concrete each have their own disadvantages, especially when maintenance environmental factors are taken into consideration. Plastic is a major problem for landfills, as well, as it can take an estimated 500 years to fully decompose. One UK company believes they can solve both maintenance and environmental problems through the use of recycled plastic.
Read moreScientists Develop Roads That Can De-Ice Themselves
Photo by planetlight, CC BY 2.0
Ice and snow on roads cause increased traffic accidents and businesses and school to close. The most popular defenses against ice build-up is to salt or sand roads, sidewalks and driveways, but it’s expensive for cities to send out trucks to drop it. Not only that, but most of it gets picked up by cars or wash away when the snow and ice melts, causing it to need to be re-applied.
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