Latest news & events

This month’s Live Labs 2 blog and project update comes from Joseph Webster, Carbon Reduction Project Co-ordinator with TfWM and the Centre of Excellence - South Campus team.

The last few months have been a busy time for the South Campus of the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads and we are gearing up for an exciting summer with upcoming events, social value initiatives and low-carbon trials. 

Pothole phase 2

Building on the success of pothole phase 1 trials in March 2024, we are now preparing to embark on pothole phase 2. A site has been chosen and provisionally marked out, and we are engaging with suppliers to confirm the pothole innovations to trial for this phase, with works expected to begin in July 2025. 

By incorporating the lessons that we learned from last year; developing the methodology and delivering additional outcomes with this year’s trials will offer us plenty of knowledge sharing opportunities.

Supersite resurfacing trials

We currently have two ‘supersites’ planned in the West Midlands, each dedicated to using low-carbon materials. The intention is that we will trial a variety of innovative low carbon materials in the binder course for one site and then focus on materials in the surface course for the other site. 

Essentially, this approach will allow us to minimise the variables for each site and accurately evaluate the performance and carbon reduction potential of these innovations. The focus on resurfacing is a particularly important service area, due to the disproportionately high carbon footprint carried by these activities.

Rejuvenation and preservation phase 2 

Building on the success of our phase 1 surface treatment trials we now aim to explore the optimal use of rejuvenators as a low cost, low-carbon treatment option. 

This trial aims to delve deeper into the potential of rejuvenators, incorporating various surface types and traffic levels for comparability. 

The study will aim to explore the following:

1. Longevity and performance – How do rejuvenators and preservatives perform on different asphalt types (SMA vs HRA).
2. Carbon and cost crossover – To measure at which point rejuvenation and preservation becomes a more viable option than traditional surface dressing?
3. The suitability of specific products – How do specific preserver and rejuvenators compare and perform under varying road conditions.

Our primary goal from this investigation is to determine the optimal application scenarios for rejuvenators; assessing their viability as a scalable, low-carbon solution for road maintenance and preservation. We’re excited to undertake this next stage of our research and look forward to sharing the results as we progress.

Visual inspections

The comprehensive 3, 6 and 12-month visual inspections for the phase 1 pothole trials have now been collated by our team. These photos provide us with objective evidence to display the longevity of pothole innovations, and we have also conducted visual inspections and drive-throughs over the 4 rejuvenator and preservative sites to gather vital data. 

The photos of each repair will be lined up next to each other so we can see the differences in before/after conditions and then how those repairs are holding up over time, clearly showing any early life degradation. Although time-consuming, this has been an essential and very valuable aspect of our preparation and research.

Highways specific carbon training 

Our project team is also currently developing a training programme, focusing on the specifics of carbon emissions, resilience and innovation within the highways maintenance industry. 

This course will be available on the Transport Skills Academy hub and the CEDR website and is targeted towards local highway authority maintenance teams. 

The curriculum will include 6 detailed modules, complemented by quiz sections. The programme aims to equip professionals in the sector with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and implement decarbonisation strategies on the road network effectively. 

Social value initiative

We are also currently in the middle of developing a social value programme aimed at engaging schools within the region. This will involve educating young people on carbon emissions and the importance of decarbonisation, especially within the highways sector. 

It will be delivered as an educational workshop and a borough/school-wide decarbonisation competition, providing social value to the community, education on carbon reduction and showcasing interesting careers in transport.

Events and conferences

Over the last few months, CEDR has been part of a wide and exciting range of events within the sector:

• We presented at the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) conference, and our Rejuvenation/Preservative trials won an award for ‘Asset Management’.
• We were invited to give a talk at the CIHT emerging professionals conference, discussing the importance of decarbonisation for the future of the sector.
• CEDR sat on a panel at the CPC summit, highlighting how decarbonisation will shape the future of highway maintenance.

These important opportunities to connect and share ideas were in addition to the Live Labs 2 Expo which took place in Liverpool in March and where our team presented alongside our Live Labs 2 colleagues and peers.

Coming up, our project team will be part of the LCRIG Innovation and Learning festival. If you are attending, come along to our stand and say hello.

The second half of 2025 is shaping up to be busy and engaging, filled with a variety of low-carbon trials, training, social value initiatives and sector engagement. We look forward to keeping you up to date with our news and progress.

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 CEDR Live Labs Project, follow their LinkedIn page here for the latest updates.

Author

Joseph Webster is the Carbon Reduction Project Co-ordinator with Transport for West Midlands.