We're using a state-of-the-art technique to effectively recycle roadways, with widespread benefits.
The foamed bitumen process helps us achieve significant efficiencies as it works to improve some of the state’s most important roads.
The process involves milling old roadway to rubble then mixing in foamed bitumen, created by injecting air and water into hot bitumen. The mixed materials cure to produce a durable, flexible road pavement with properties like asphalt.
Without needing to remove old road materials or deliver as much new material, machinery movements are heavily reduced, reducing construction times.
Foamed bitumen’s durability has allowed a reduced thickness of the roadway’s top layer of asphalt pavement, leading to further savings. Along with the efficiencies achieved, recycling the old road reduces reliance on landfill, virgin materials and quarrying.
The process also produces less dust, meaning huge savings on water where it may otherwise be required for dust-suppression activities.
Our use of foamed bitumen 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.
We've used foamed bitumen on projects including the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade in Doreen. The Bridge Inn Road Upgrade is adding extra lanes in both directions between Plenty and Yan Yean roads to help people get home safer and sooner.
Other improvements include key intersection upgrades and the construction of safety barriers and shared walking and cycling paths to improve safety and connectivity. The upgrade has also built a new bridge over Plenty River, with the existing 155-year-old heritage bridge being repurposed as a dedicated walking and cycling path.
The upgrade will reduce congestion and improve travel times while boosting safety and connecting communities across Melbourne’s growing outer-northern suburbs.
We've also used foamed bitumen on the Sunbury Road Upgrade and previously on the Golf Links Road Upgrade.
Find out more information about the Bridge Inn Road Upgrade.