Bath City Council has teamed up with VolkerHighways to deliver an eco-friendly thermal system to maintain the city’s pavements.
The technology uses infrared radiation to reheat existing surfaces meaning more material can be mixed into the road’s surface to repair any damage.
The restoration technique pays homage to the history of the Roman city’s thermal waters, which have played a central role in the development and tourism of Bath.
Not only is the thermal system historically significant, but it will also be highly environmentally conscious. It will reduce waste material by promoting the recycling of damaged road surfaces as well as removing the need for emission-producing power tools. This way, repairs can be made more efficiently with lower noise pollution and far fewer carbon dioxide emissions.
The system and the self-contained vehicle it travels in are also fitted with solar panels, meaning it can recharge in the sun’s light to utilise sustainable energy.
Operations manager Charlie Cox said: “We have trialled road repair technology for a number of years including in Bath and North East Somerset in 2019 and 2021, as well as in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
It’s brilliant to see Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) council adopting thermal road repair technology into its own fleet, helping to reduce our environmental impact.”
Mark Roper, BANES council cabinet assistant added: “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver our essential works while still moving towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral. We know that embracing and investing in new and innovative methods like this will help us tackle the climate emergency better.
After successful trials using this system, we’ve seen the benefits that it can bring, and we’re excited to see it out and about improving our highways.”
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