Municipality of Heerlen first to launch circular asphalt paving with Asphalt Recycling Train (ART)
Municipality of Heerlen is the first municipality to participate in a pilot program of Rijkswaterstaat for sustainable road surface maintenance with the Asphalt Recycling Train (ART). The ART recycles almost all the old asphalt on site into new asphalt. This makes it virtually circular. It also reduces CO2 emissions because trips to and from an asphalt plant are no longer necessary.
How does the Asphalt Recycling Train work?
The ART is a series of maintenance machines that travel in a train over a damaged road surface, leaving behind a beautiful, smooth, new overlay. The first machines heat the asphalt, softening the mixture. Another machine "eats" the old asphalt, processes it into a new mixture and spreads new asphalt on the road. Finally, a roller comes in and turns the road into a new smooth overlay. This is all done in one pass. This way of working provides new asphalt on the spot.
In doing so, the municipality is setting an example by wasting fewer raw materials and reusing more. By participating in the pilot program with the Asphalt Recycling Train, the municipality is taking an important step toward circular asphalt maintenance. This initiative aligns with the municipality's broader sustainability offensive. Also, by participating in the pilot program, we are gathering valuable data to further improve the technique. We are sharing this knowledge with the industry so that it can become a full-fledged alternative for road surface maintenance throughout Limburg.
Advantages
We almost completely reuse the old asphalt. There is no need to dispose of the old asphalt or bring in new material. This leads to savings in transportation costs and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. When the ART is finished, the road can open after only about six hours. So this method also reduces traffic disruption.
Future
With this trial, Heerlen wants to contribute to the further development of ART technology and its wider applicability on highways and provincial roads. By focusing on circular asphalting and reducing CO2 emissions, Heerlen is taking an important step toward sustainable infrastructure and a better environment.