Smooth Roads Lead to Emission Reductions

A new study published in the International Journal of Sustainable Transportation reveals that maintenance of roads and highways can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2 per cent. 

Actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions benefit the planet and mitigate climate change.

Pavement maintenance also offers other benefits, such as savings in spending between 10 to 30 per cent of transportation agencies. Because smooth roads offer less tyre traction, it can reduce drivers’ fuel consumption by up to 5 per cent and save them from tyre wear, vehicle repair and maintenance.

The study looked at four common asphalt treatment methods to determine the environmental costs of each method consisting of:

1. thin asphalt overlay of up to 2 inches on road surfaces,
2. chip seal that involves spraying asphalt emulsion on pavement, then laying down aggregate materials,
3. spreading slurry over the pavement and
4. A crack seal consists of filling cracks with rubberized asphalt or polymer-modified asphalt with some filler. 

Methods were tested using a motor vehicle emission simulator (MOVES) on these four pavement treatments. It showed reduced carbon emissions because of pavement surface improvements despite emissions generated during the construction.

Among the four conventional pavement treatments, the thin asphalt overlays show the highest emissions reduction (2%) because of pavement smoothness. In contrast, the crack seal methods show the lowest reductions in carbon emissions at 0.5 per cent.

The findings in the study would hopefully assist transportation agencies to factor in climate change in road maintenance and choose the best methods to reduce carbon emissions.

To read the entire study, CLICK on the link below: