Most concrete roads are found in the North East, Yorkshire, East Anglia and the South East; the project will focus on resurfacing stretches of the A11, A14, A12, A120 and M11, upgrading approximately 200 miles (2%) of the National Road Network. 

Concrete, despite being the second most-used substance in the world, runs into problems on the roads. Made by mixing aggregate (crushed rock and sand), along with cement and water, concrete forms a stiff but strong solid.

This rigidity, however, means road surfaces are prone to cracks, especially if the underlying foundations are not perfectly smooth.

Asphalt is also aggregate-based but uses bitumen, a sticky material derived from crude oil, as a binder. The mixture is heated and pressed into the road’s surface with a steamroller. 

Once cooled, asphalt surfaces are highly durable, providing also good flexibility to accommodate imperfections in the surface beneath – a feature that gives it the edge over concrete. 

National Highways Martin Fellows welcomes a refresh: “‘The A11 is a vital route used by 45,000 drivers every day for work journeys and home deliveries, visits to friends and family, and the movement of goods and services. However, the road surface of this stretch is more than 25 years old and despite serving us well, is coming to the end of its life and needs reconstruction.”

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According to HAUC(UK), more than four million excavations are estimated to take place across Great Britain each year. There were 395 reports of cable damage on worksites between July and September 2019, but compared to the same period in 2020, this had significantly increased to 475 reports.

The committee also found that there has been a 700 percent increase in “safety-related incidents” caused by underground cable, joint or link box damage, over the last six years.

The launch of the app is part of a larger plan to ensure street works become safer and more efficient. It is free to use and will be continuously updated with new tools to support those working in the industry.

This comes after HAUC(UK) found that 31 percent of construction workers failed to check for cables before beginning work, despite being one of the highest at-risk groups. Some of the reasons for this included staff thinking they wouldn’t be digging deep enough to hit anything, and not seeing it as their responsibility to perform checks.

In addition, a survey on behalf of the Energy Networks Association cited a lack of understanding of the risks, and a lack of knowledge of the correct procedure by onsite workers as the main causes of cable strikes.

The app is able to work offline and will update once it has a signal or is connected to wi-fi, offering employees access to the latest safety guidelines.

Check the Anglo Liners blog to keep up-to-date with the latest road safety news. Alternatively, click here for a free quote.