Government expands trials of plastic road technology to stop potholes

Funding for plastic roads that could stop potholes from forming is among thenew technology being backed by the Government as part of research and trials to future proof UK highways.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said £22.9 million is to be used to fund real-world tests across eight local authorities in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Staffordshire, Kent, Reading, Suffolk and Solihull and Birmingham.

Other technologies to be trialled include using kinetic energy gathered from roads to power lighting, and harnessing geothermal energy to prevent car parks and bus stations from freezing over in winter.

Some £1.6 million of the fund will be used to extend an existing plastic roads trial. The solution is said to increase the life span of roads on which it is used.

In Buckinghamshire, kinetic energy recovery technology will be used to gather energy from the testing carriageway and relay it to roadside battery units.

While the trials in Bedfordshire will see geothermal energy used to heat water pipes laid just below the surface to help de-ice car parks and bus stations in sub-zero conditions.