ASI Solutions | Celebrates 10 years of RHiNOPHALT® on the M40

ASI Solutions Ltd (ASI) are celebrating a 10 year relationship with UK Highways (M40) Ltd (UKH), which has seen nearly 4 million square metres of asphalt treated with ASI’s RHiNOPHALT® penetrative preservative.

Back in 2006, UKH provided a section of the M40 motorway for RHiNOPHALT® application trials and testing in order that ASI could obtain BBA HAPAS approval which was achieved in March 2007.  At the time, UKH were 10 years into a 30 year concession and, following the trials, they were impressed enough to consider large scale application. UKH are responsible for the M40 between junctions 1 and 15, an area of approximately 3.5 million m2 asphalt (2.7m excluding hard shoulders).

A benefit case was prepared which suggested that using RHiNOPHALT® would deliver whole-life cost savings of 39% against a conventional repair & replace strategy.  As a result, a 5 year plan to apply RHiNOPHALT® to all running lanes was adopted and, at the same time, all joints and cracks were to be sealed to provide a fully waterproof pavement.

The application was carried out by Accord Highways, subsequently Enterprise, using a bespoke applicator vehicle capable of spraying 0.5 litres/m2 of RHiNOPHALT®, and a fine abrasive grit used to give initial skid resistance and to abrade the RHiNOPHALT® from the surface of the stone.

At the end of 2011, following a company restructure, Enterprise applied their last drop of RHiNOPHALT®, having treated over 2.5million m2 asphalt in 3 years.

Road Maintenance Services Limited (RMS) were introduced to UKH as ASI’s preferred applicator for highways, and during 2012 RMS worked with UKH to conclude a new 5 year framework agreement commencing in 2013.  Since then, to date, RMS have re-treated 1.4million m2 of asphalt with RHiNOPHALT®.

Application takes place at night, typically within a 4km closure.  Once traffic count reaches acceptable levels, traffic management teams swing into action putting out the cones, and the RMS team move quickly to mask cats-eyes and gully drains before applying the RHiNOPHALT®. The RHiNOPHALT® takes less than an hour to apply, with a further 1-2 hours left for curing, at which point the white lines can be re-sprayed, masking removed and the road re-opened. With over 6 years experience of applying RHiNOPHALT® on the network, RMS have this down to a fine art !

Over the 10 years of RHiNOPHALT® application, UKH have benefitted from the operational and financial benefits which RHiNOPHALT® delivers. The RHiNOPHALT® preserves the bituminous binder in the asphalt surface by locking in the lighter, flexible elements of bitumen whilst locking out the effects of UV and water ingress, leading to significantly reduced deterioration of the asphalt and less reactive maintenance. Drivers on the M40 therefore benefit from a better quality surface and free flowing carriageways.

As RHiNOPHALT® continues to deliver significant benefits, ASI are proud of the 10 year relationship we have enjoyed with UKH.

To see how RHiNOPHALT® can save YOU money, please contact Craig Marshall from ASI Solutions Ltd on 01908 246000