Engineering Matters

Engineering Matters


#149 Roads: Invention needs Ambition

February 10, 2022

In the UK in 2020, 80% of freight was moved by road and 90% of passenger miles were travelled by road. It is considered a high-carbon form of transport today, but this is changing as new technology is rapidly making electric vehicles and alternative fuels more attractive. 



With the decarbonisation of road transport, its popularity is expected to increase, with traffic levels set to be higher in 2050 than they are today. Even juggernaut investments in rail such as High Speed 2 are expected to take just 1 to 3% of traffic off the Strategic Road Network.



But while road transport is targeted for Net Zero by 2050, National Highways is looking even sooner for its maintenance and construction work. Technology will play a key role in this…



Guests



Andrew Gudge, Operations Director, Re Highways 



Robin Hudson-Griffiths, Senior Pavements Advisor – Safety, Engineering & Standards, National Highways



Brian Kent, National Technical Director, Tarmac



Partner



Tarmac is the UK’s leading sustainable construction materials, road contracting and building products business. It leads in the supply of construction material comprising aggregates, asphalt, cement, lime, concrete, road contracting, building products and recycling services.