FM Conway and National Highways have collaborated on an innovation on a UK road project, which involves a “first-of-its-kind low carbon scheme”.
The innovation involved using hydrogen and electric plant equipment to resurface an important section of the road network, the carriageway between Junctions 15 and 16 on the M4. This also signified the first use of JCB’s hydrogen 3CX backhoe loader in a project of this scale.
The 3CX backhoe loader was joined by Sany’s electric planer and 4.5-tonne roller, which were all transported on Volvo’s fully electric 42-tonne lorry. To make this possible, the teams coordinated electric charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure with the support of the National Highways team and its low-carbon demonstrator fund.
“We’re committed to cutting carbon from road maintenance and are proud to support the acceleration of new low‑carbon technologies, helping bold projects like this become a reality,” National Highways head of carbon and air quality Angela Halliwell said.
“This isn’t just about testing ideas, but generating real‑world learning that can drive wider adoption and help make our network one of the greenest in the world.”
The 11,000-tonne scheme was delivered over six weeks using low-carbon material. The asphalt mix was engineered to maximise recycled content. Recycled asphalt product (RAP) was taken from other National Highways operated roads, including the M11, A34 and A3. Mixes containing 60 per cent RAP were laid in the base and binder courses, while mixes containing 30 per cent RAP were laid in the surface course.
“Delivering this scheme on time and to such a high standard was only possible through genuine collaboration with our partners – we all played a vital role. It took belief in a shared goal and a healthy dose of commitment to integrate the use of these new technologies effectively,” FM Conway framework delivery manager Andy Weymouth said.
“By working together, we overcame challenges and set a new benchmark for how sustainable road construction can be achieved on the national strategic network. This scheme is proof that when we unite expertise and resources, we can accelerate the transition to greener infrastructure and deliver real impact.”
