A small stretch of road in Glentunnel, New Zealand, has become the first in the country to be surfaced with recycled rubber, marking a potential shift in how the nation approaches road construction and waste management.
Innovative Road Construction
On Friday, the Selwyn District Council, in partnership with HEB Construction, completed the installation of the rubber road surface on Glentunnel Domain Road, located on State Highway 77, 40km inland from Rolleston. The project utilized approximately 1800 tyres, transformed into rubber crumb locally produced by Treadlite New Zealand. This innovative approach replaces traditional gravel and bitumen.
The council is assessing three different construction sections on Glentunnel Domain Road to evaluate performance under New Zealand conditions. These include a rubber surface over a traditional aggregate base, a rubber-modified asphalt developed by Isaac Construction, and a full rubber surface and base layer.
Addressing Waste and Costs
The project aims to reduce New Zealand’s reliance on imported materials and provide a sustainable solution for end-of-life tyres. Mayor Lydia Gliddon stated that the trial has the potential for long-term savings for ratepayers due to lower maintenance costs. “Selwyn is always looking for fresh ideas that improve value for money and stronger results for our communities. We are determined to not just be building more infrastructure but building better, smarter infrastructure,” she said.
Council Transportation delivery manager Steve Guy noted that international results indicate rubberised surfaces last longer, perform better in extreme weather, and create safer, smoother, and quieter roads for drivers.
Looking Ahead
The trial will be monitored weekly, and if successful, the Selwyn District Council will consider a wider rollout of rubberised surfacing across the district. The council manages 1359km of sealed roads and uses 15,000 tonnes of chip aggregate annually. Replacing 20% of that aggregate with rubber chip could recycle 3,000 tonnes of waste tyres each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials were used to create the rubber road?
The rubber road was created using recycled rubber crumb made locally by Treadlite New Zealand, utilizing approximately 1800 tyres.
Where is the rubber road located?
The rubber road is located on a small stretch of Glentunnel Domain Road, which sits on State Highway 77, 40km inland from Rolleston.
What is the goal of this trial?
The goal of this trial is to assess the performance of rubberised road surfaces under New Zealand conditions and to explore a sustainable solution for managing end-of-life tyres even as potentially reducing road maintenance costs.
Will this innovative approach to road construction offer a viable long-term solution for New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges?
