We cannot underestimate the scale of the issues we face, but there are many reasons to be optimistic and excited about the future. In a recent article for the CIHT, my colleague Mark Flint explored some of the latest frontiers in highways research and development – from driving levels of asphalt recycling ever higher to using bio-based additives to boost performance.

Boundaries are definitely being pushed in the lab, but if we want the full benefits of this experimentation to be felt, then we need to make it easier and faster to apply that out-of-the-box thinking to the network. That can be a little harder to do. In a sector where safety is rightly paramount, teams can naturally be wary of moving away from tried and tested models. Scaling up innovation can also be expensive, putting pressure on budget holders who are already facing funding challenges, as well as on the construction industry, which typically operates on slim margins.  

So, how can we square this circle, finding new solutions while managing risk and navigating financial squeezes? The answer lies in how clients and their supply chain partners work together. The emphasis must be on sharing knowledge, building trust and creating room to break the mould. 

Matt Smith, managing director, FM Conway

Space to test, learn and achieve together 

The industry is learning more and more about how the network is evolving, with practices like coring giving us a window into live conditions, and the latest lab testing showing us how new mixes could perform under different stresses and strains.  The important thing is to bring all this information together to create a rich bank of data that highways operators can use to build confidence among their stakeholders and make the case for specification changes – based on clear evidence.  

Collaboration is essential. At FM Conway, we have been developing our knowledge of recycling techniques for many years, and we strongly believe there’s scope to embrace a circular model of material use far more widely across the industry.  We know that this change can only happen if we share the benefits of our expertise. If we acknowledge that the challenges are industry-wide, then we must also recognise that we need a collective response.  

If contractors need to be generous with their insight, then the other piece of the puzzle is for clients to make space for supply chain partners to trial new techniques. That relies on trust, as well as having the appropriate operational frameworks and financing in place to make it easier to depart from approved specifications.  We’ve been fortunate to have worked with forward-thinking clients who have given us that room to innovate over the years.  The results speak for themselves and most recently we were able to lay a new road surface in London containing 92% recycled materials, the highest percentage ever used on a UK road.  We want to replicate this success across other areas of research, from new additive trials to different laying techniques.    

It's an exciting time to be working in highways, if a little daunting. The challenges we face won’t be easily solved and new thinking will be required from all quarters of the industry, from clients, contractors, and consultants to researchers and lab technicians.  Crucially, we need to deliver change together, sharing the risks, as well as the rewards of innovation.