Ringway Jacobs Resurfaces Highway in World-First Gipave Trial

ongoing

A trial which could revolutionize the way public highways are resurfaced has shown some encouraging initial findings. In the summer of 2022, Essex Highways – a partnership between Ringway Jacobs and Essex County Council – began a trial adding a new strengthening compound, Gipave, to traditional surfacing material on a section of the A1016 Parkway in Chelmsford. It was the first time Gipave had been added to hot rolled asphalt. Produced by Italian company Iterchimica, Gipave contains graphene – which is 200 times stronger than steel yet extremely flexible – making the asphalt far less susceptible both to hardening and cracking in cold temperatures and softening in warm temperatures. It also increases the elasticity and strength to reduce the wear, particularly under high loading.