Although the winter, which often saw thaws alternating with frost, has “potholed” many Latvian roads, ReTV reports that the weather conditions have had no impact on the 350-metre-long experimental asphalt section laid last September in Vilce parish, Jelgava municipality. Experts recognise this type of experimental asphalt as more sustainable and environmentally friendly. However, wider use of the new asphalt on Latvian roads is expected in a couple of years.

Last September, “Ziņas” reported on the laying of the experimental asphalt in Vilce parish on the access road to the “Igate” road construction company's asphalt plant. The components of this asphalt include not only stone chips and bitumen but also rubber granules, which make up 15 percent of the bitumen mixture. Viktors Haritonovs, a scientist from Riga Technical University involved in the project, noted at the time that international experience suggests such a rubber additive makes road surfaces more sustainable. Specifically, it could last two to five years longer than conventional asphalt.

“Ziņas” also highlighted that Latvia has a massive stockpile of waste tyres, which has already reached 100,000 tonnes. The Riga Technical University scientists' experiment on the use of rubber granules in road construction offers a sustainable solution to this environmental problem.

RTU scientists promise to continue their research and to create another experimental asphalt road section by autumn with an improved asphalt mixture recipe. It is noted that it is not forbidden to produce such asphalt at present, but it is most likely that it could be used more widely in a couple of years, once the technology has been thoroughly tested and manufacturers have properly equipped their facilities. (...)