A new method of road maintenance using quick-cooling asphalt is being rolled out in Bromley to reduce closures and carbon emissions.

Warm mix asphalt is laid at lower temperatures than traditional mixes, which means it requires less cooling time, increasing the amount of material that can be laid in a standard shift, allowing roads to open sooner.

The material is supplied through the Council’s highways maintenance partner Riney by its parent company, Tarmac.

The Council estimates that this method of road building and repair could save 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year nationally, the equivalent of 300 million miles of car journeys.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Executive Councillor for Environment and Community Services said, “Bromley is the clean, green and safe borough, we are pleased to be one of the first boroughs to adopt this more sustainable and efficient way of working.

“It supports our environmental commitments including achieving carbon neutrality for Council activities by 2029.

“This is another example of Bromley working with our partners and contractors for our residents benefit providing them with a great place to live now and for future generations.”

Brian Kent, national technical director at Tarmac, said: “An increasing number of local authorities are taking action to adopt more sustainable ways of working and it’s great to see Bromley leading the way in the capital with a commitment to use the material across its network.

“Warm mix asphalt is a proven materials technology that benefits road users, residents living around areas of roadworks, highways workforces who spend less time exposed to traffic during roadworks, and the environment.”