Some 800,000 tonnes of waste material is being used to create the new A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens dual carriageway, new junctions and side roads, making it the largest "green" road project in the country.
To green the A30, 90 per cent of the construction material used for the new road and asphalt layers comes from waste generated by the china clay industry in St. Austell. This brings major environmental benefits, including: - A big reduction in long distance lorry journeys and carbon emissions with less traffic disruption, pollution and nuisance for people living along the route.
1. No need to quarry more stone, meaning more land is saved 2. A temporary asphalt plant at Melbur Quarry, next to the project, means material can be processed more quickly with less disruption and fewer lorry journeys.
3. Reduced cost of the scheme to the taxpayer. In addition to reduced lorry journeys and quarrying costs, there is no aggregate levy to pay, which was introduced to discourage use of primary material.
4. Gains for local employment and economy by using local haulage companies.
The material used is waste from the china clay industry. The alternative would be the conventional approach of bringing large amounts of material long distances from quarries by road, possibly from outside Cornwall.
In addition to the use of waste material on such as large scale, Needham & Cullen, a division of Bardon Contracting have pioneered the first use on a road scheme of a paving machine which can lay construction material along two lanes at a time with great accuracy, which cuts time, reduces waste and produces fewer emissions.
Roads Minister, Stephen Ladyman, said: "Pioneering work on the A30 Bodmin to Indian Queens scheme shows how we can reduce the environmental impact of a major road project. It is an excellent example of finding a local solution which benefits local people, the local economy, the landscape and the environment.
"Bodmin to Indian Queens is widely recognised for detailed work and planning which takes environmental needs into consideration while delivering a much-needed road improvement to benefit the whole of Cornwall and the rest of the country," said Dr Ladyman.
Archie Robertson, Chief Executive of the Highways Agency said:"Good environmental behaviour saves money. We respect the environment by using sustainable construction practice, for instance to reduce the distance lorries travel while working on our schemes and by recycling waste materials from local sources where it is appropriate across our work programme."
Andrew Alcorn, Highways Agency project leader said: "We are developing ways to reduce the environmental impact of major road projects and improve transport in the area; and this is a great example of that joint approach in practice. Our contractors have managed to make best use of local waste material. So not only are we using recycled products for the project, we are reducing our own carbon emissions by reducing the distance lorries need to travel in supporting construction."
Guy Roseveare, Bardon Aggregates commercial manager, part of Aggregate Industries, said: "Secondary aggregates have been used in the construction industry for a long time, with the china clay market serving the needs of the local market in the supply of crushed rock, sand and gravel. Bardon Aggregates continues to work hard to increase the volumes of secondary aggregates used into the construction market."
In a move welcomed by environmentalists, the new road skirts the edge of Goss moor, a National Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation, while a large part of the old route will be turned into an access for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.
The new dual-carriageway is due to open to traffic by the summer and is necessary because of long delays to drivers during holiday months with up to 30,000 vehicles a day, way beyond its current capacity.
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