The Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage 1 has used a recycled plastic product to build shared paths in a boost for the environment and work opportunities for people living with disability.
The use of Re-Poly fibres to replace steel mesh as concrete reinforcement will also help improve the durability and resilience of the sections of path for walkers and cyclists in Greenvale.
In a boost for the circular economy, regional Victorian company Danbar Plastics makes Re-Poly from 100% locally sourced recycled plastic at the firm’s premises in Ballarat.
Manufacturing the fibres from recycled plastic can produce significantly fewer carbon dioxide emissions than the process for making steel reinforcement, helping the environment.
The upgrade’s use of Re-Poly aligns with the Victorian Government’s Recycled First policy to support a circular economy. Recycled First requires construction companies to demonstrate how they will optimise the use of recycled materials on state transport projects.
The use of Re-Poly also offers benefits for the upgrade’s aim of delivering safer and more-reliable travel for all users of Mickleham Road, including walkers and cyclists.
Designed specifically as reinforcement for non-structural applications, Re-Poly can help improve concrete durability and reduce cracking in community infrastructure such as the upgrade’s sections of shared path.
The use of Re-poly also helps the ecologiQ program of Victoria’s Big Build to deliver on the state’s Recycled First Policy. The policy aims to optimise the use of recycled and reused materials on Victorian transport infrastructure projects.
The project’s adaptation of Re-Poly also has positive outcomes for social procurement and the regional economy. Danbar Plastics works with a local National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider to support participants with opportunities to help pack Re-Poly for distribution.
With every packaged tonne requiring nearly 37 hours of NDIS employment, the Re-Poly used for Stage 1’s shared path sections created 185 hours of work for NDIS participants.
The Mickleham Road Upgrade is adding lanes in each direction and upgrading key intersections between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard. The project is also building sections of shared path to improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists.
As part of Stage 1, the roundabout at Somerton and Mickleham roads has been replaced with a new traffic light intersection, including priority bus lanes, to better manage traffic flow.
The project is set to complete major works in the coming weeks, over 6 months ahead of schedule.
Planning and development work is underway to inform the potential Mickleham Road Upgrade - Stage 2, between Dellamore Boulevard and Craigieburn Road.
Find out more about the Mickleham Road Upgrade.