A new kind of asphalt with less climate impact and a greener asphalting process is now being tested by the municipality of Kil. “The first proper test will be in the winter,” says Stefan Björkman at Kil’s municipality.
In Sweden, there are 8,000 miles of asphalted roads and each year approximately eight million tons of asphalt are laid, which affects the climate. In order to reduce emissions, the municipality of Kil is implementing a pilot project where a more environmentally friendly process is used for asphalting.
The new thing about asphalt is that pine oil replaces bitumen, which is produced from crude oil and which previously made up a large part of the asphalt mass. The asphalt also contains a large amount of recycled asphalt, and is produced using fossil-free fuel in Sofiedal, a few kilometers from Kil.
This year Kil’s municipality plans to pave around 15,000 square meters and the carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be reduced by around 25 tons compared to traditional paving.
– Together with our asphalt contractor, Skanska, we will evaluate how the new asphalt is holding up, says Stefan Björkman, technical manager at Kil’s municipality, to Car Whiz team.
Three areas with three different conditions must be evaluated. Among other things, a parking lot in central Kil is to be asphalted. According to the municipality, the area is a good test area because many cars reverse and accelerate on small surfaces.
– Then we partly have an exit road that is used by very heavy traffic, and partly we have a residential area with less traffic. With each property, there are a lot of starts and stops, says Stefan Björkman.
Pine oil replaces bitumen as a binder. Photo: Kil municipality
How long does asphalt last?
– Traditional asphalt lasts between 30 and 40 years. It all depends on possible water leaks or other things that cause the asphalt to crack and break. My hope is that the new asphalt lasts just as long. The first proper test will be in the winter, says Stefan Björkman.
He further explains that the durability depends on the sub-work during the asphalting. If the work is done well, no problems often arise.
– As a rule, it is bad subwork or water pipes that often need to be replaced, which means that the road often has bumps and bumps, which contributes to the destruction of the asphalt.
In addition to climate-adapted asphalting, electric machines and transport must also contribute to a reduced climate impact.
– The trucks used are electric, which contributes to a calmer and quieter working environment. If we had also been allowed to use the electric asphalt paver as the plan was from the beginning, we would basically have been able to work in the middle of the night, around the clock, without disturbing anyone.
The new asphalt is ten percent more expensive.
– If the asphalt lasts as long, the municipality contributes to a better environment and then the cost increase is well worth it, concludes Stefan Björkman.
Stefan Björkman is Technical Manager at Kil municipality. Photo: Kil municipality
