CEMEX reduces disposal costs and CO2 emissions

CEMEX Surfacing, part of CEMEX UK, has saved GBP1.3 million in disposal costs and eliminated 1,120 tonnes of CO2 emissions by using an innovative product on a highways contract for Amey.

Amey appointed CEMEX to resurface a 2.5km stretch of dual carriageway between Ryton Island and Memorial Island on the A45, a two-lane dual carriageway in Birmingham.

The contract involved planing and removing 10,000 tonnes of contaminated tar-bound materials from the carriageway, which would normally present significant disposal costs.

But instead of throwing the rubble away, CEMEX crushed, screened and graded the material before working on-site to produce Viafoam; a cold mixed, low energy demand, foam asphalt.

The material is made from 80 per cent recovered planings, pulverised fuel ash, - a by-product of the coal industry - cement and foamed bitumen.

By using this process, CEMEX prevented 12,500 tonnes of virgin aggregates being used.

In addition, by creating the Viafoam resource on site, the company eliminated the need to travel 100kms to the nearest disposal site - which reduced emissions, transportation and disposal costs.

In total, approximately, 13,960 tonnes of Viafoam were used, up to 400 mm thick, along the carriageway and footway.

During delivery of the contract, CEMEX set up a temporary compound area on agricultural land.

Once the project was completed, the company aerated the topsoil and restored the field for future use by the landowner.

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