The UK Government is to spend £30 million on seven new regional projects across the UK to boost innovation in decarbonising roads. Winning projects include ‘carbon capturing’ cement and green waste being used to make asphalt, and the projects aim to ensure the latest tech and innovations can reduce emissions, improve regional connectivity and accelerate the journey to net-zero local roads.
As part of the plans, future roads could be built using asphalt made from grass cuttings and ‘carbon capturing’ cement, with the seven projects spread across the UK from Lanarkshire to Devon, Other winning projects include cutting carbon emissions from streetlights to driving changes to the design, construction and maintenance of typical UK highways, as well as plans to develop a first-of-its-kind system approach to creating a net carbon negative model for green infrastructure delivery.
Roads Minister Richard Holden commented: “The UK is a world leader in technology and innovation and we must use that strength to both drive decarbonisation and the next generation of high tech jobs that go alongside it. We are supporting this vital agenda to help level-up through £30 million funding for ground-breaking projects and boosting regional connections to support growth.
The Government is determined to create good, well paid jobs – via innovation and investment across the UK – as we accelerate the road to net zero.”
