Long lasting surface texture on busy road junction

The busy A64 in Yorkshire recently required improvements following an increase in maintenance at the junction with the A1237, just outside York. Analysis of the busy slip road confirmed that the existing high friction surface was subject to delamination with loss of anti-skid properties, requiring an increased frequency of reactive maintenance. Tarmac worked collaboratively with principal designer and principal contractor A-one+ to meet Highways England’s requirements to replace the surface with a more durable asphalt, which would deliver better whole-life performance, boost safety and minimise unplanned delays.

ULTIGRIP differs from other high friction surfaces due to its unique composition. Its skid-resistant properties are not added at the end of the surfacing process but are intrinsic to the mix. A calcined bauxite aggregate and a durable clear polymer modified binder binder are combined to offer a robust, textured finish that reduces the danger of skidding. Its unique attributes result in the mix being robust and easy to compact and transport over longer distances without compromising performance. It can also be mixed with coloured pigments where a more distinctive appearance is required. Being one homogenous layer, ULTIGRIP will not delaminate and therefore also reduces the likelihood of accidents and legal claims. This proven technology has already been put to effective use on a number of schemes across the UK, delivering benefits for clients and communities.

Approximately 250 tonnes of ULTIGRIP was laid following careful whole-life cost calculations. With the reduced reactive maintenance factored in, ULTIGRIP has a verified £370,000 whole-life cost saving compared with multiple applications of traditional high-friction surfacing. Its benefits also stretch to road users, with 28 nights of junction closures saved over the product’s expected lifetime. Traditional anti-skid asphalts typically last between 2-4 years, according to many local authorities, and can be costly to replace. ULTIGRIP lasts on average more than three times longer, thereby reducing the maintenance burden over its surface lifetime. Fewer interventions also limit the potential damage to the underlying surface layers during maintenance, eliminating the associated remediation costs.