Live Labs 2 Blog

This month the Live Labs 2 project update comes from Joseph Webster, Carbon Reduction Project Coordinator with the Transport for West Midlands Live Labs 2 team.

March 2025 is an exciting time for us as it marks a year since our Pothole Phase 1 trial and two years since the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (CEDR) began its mission to make road construction and maintenance more sustainable. 

Over this relatively short space of time, we’ve trialled innovative low-carbon solutions, collaborated across the sector with both industry and academia and developed data-driven insights to help local authorities adopt greener practices. In our blog this month we’re exploring what we’ve achieved and looking at what’s next.

Pothole Phase 1

In March 2024, we conducted our first live trials across six West Midlands regions, testing nine innovations on various road types. The trials gathered operational, technical and carbon data helping to shape our ‘Trial Gold Standards’ - a guide to fair evaluation methods. Working with suppliers, academia and local authorities to deliver this trial, the results of which will soon be available through our accessible knowledge bank.

Sector engagement

One of the key strengths of CEDR is its collaborative approach. Over the past two years, we’ve partnered with universities including Aston, Nottingham and Nottingham Trent, as well as industry experts who help to advise on best practice. These partnerships enhance our trial methodology, validate low-carbon solutions and ensure decisions are evidence based.

We’ve also engaged widely across the sector, attending events including the LCRIG Innovation Festival, Strictly Highways, Highways UK and the LL2 Expo. Our presence at these events has strengthened CEDR’s profile and demonstrated the value of our research.

Beyond industry events, we’ve delivered student engagement projects, including challenges at Nottingham Trent Business School and technical sessions at the University of Nottingham. Most recently, we lectured at the University of Birmingham’s Faculty of Engineering, educating future professionals on decarbonising highway materials.

Rejuvenation and preservation trials

Preventative maintenance, such as asphalt rejuvenation and preservation, can extend road life and cut long-term costs, much like routine servicing for vehicles. Despite potential benefits some voices remain sceptical, because these treatments lack an immediate visual impact.

To address these concerns, in August 2024, CEDR’s South Campus launched trials across four sites in Coventry and Solihull, testing Rhinophalt, PenTack, and Reclamite across 30,000m² of road surface. By comparing treated sections with untreated controls, we aim to provide robust insights on cost, carbon impact and road longevity based on the collected evidence.

Our findings will combine site observations, laboratory testing, and slab simulation programmes, alongside external data from local authorities that have historical experience with these products. The full results will be presented in 2025, offering a clear vision of the role of rejuvenators and preservatives in UK road maintenance. 

At CEDR, we recognise that while some local authorities have experience with these treatments, knowledge remains fragmented and rejuvenation remains a little-known solution in the UK. Our goal is to bring clarity to this space, assessing how well these products enhance asphalt performance and quantifying their long-term benefits. 

By providing independent data, we aim to build confidence among local highway authorities, helping them make informed decisions about whether rejuvenation and preservation treatments should become a standard part of their asset management strategies. 

Looking ahead 

Although our progress has been excellent, there is still more we want to explore and achieve in the final year of our Live Labs 2 project.

Pothole Phase 2

Following the success of Phase 1, we’re launching ‘Pothole Phase 2,’ revisiting previous materials and trialling new ones. This phase takes an operational, open-network approach allowing suppliers to test their innovations over a month in a live local authority setting. The resulting data will provide valuable insights into the real-world performance of these low-carbon alternatives.

Expanding low-carbon solutions

Beyond potholes, we’re exploring sustainable approaches in resurfacing, carriageway recycling, surface treatments and bioproducts. By broadening our scope, we aim to drive further decarbonisation across the sector.

Knowledge bank launch

By May 2025, our comprehensive knowledge bank will have launched, making our research and best practices widely accessible. This resource will support future projects and help authorities implement decarbonisation strategies with informed decision making.

We remain committed to finding low-carbon solutions and helping local authorities meet their net zero goals and answer any questions they may have about their net zero journey. Please follow our journey towards decarbonisation and if there is a specific output, you would like to see associated with our trials please get in touch via the links below.

Further information

• For more information on ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK, please look at the Live Labs 2 section on the website
• For more information about the UK Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads, please visit the project website

Author

• Joseph Webster, Carbon Reduction Project Co-ordinator at Transport for West Midlands.