In the Vilce parish of Jelgava municipality, an experimental asphalt concrete surface has been laid on a road used intensively by heavy goods vehicles. The surface incorporates an innovative solution for modifying the bitumen binder with rubber granules derived from end-of-life vehicle tyres. The innovative road surfacing recipe was developed by scientists at Riga Technical University (RTU), and laboratory tests show significant resistance to fatigue cracking and rutting.

"The properties of bitumen, also known as pitch or the glue used to bind aggregate in asphalt concrete, influence the performance characteristics of a road surface. Adding rubber granules obtained from end-of-life vehicle tyres to bitumen addresses several issues. Firstly, the innovative composite material is flexible, meaning it has significantly higher resistance to rutting and cracking than what has been used previously. Secondly, by reusing end-of-life vehicle tyres, their environmental impact is reduced, and the principles of the circular economy and sustainability are promoted within the road construction sector," notes Viktors Haritonovs, leading researcher at the RTU Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Roads and Bridges.