Tuesday, Jun 22, 2010
Gulf News
Sharjah Authorities aim to improve the city's roads and reduce the chance of potholes formation by using rubberised asphalt.
Senior officials from the Directorate of Public Works and Bee'ah, the Sharjah Environmental Company, met yesterday to discuss the implementation of the new environment-friendly technology in the emirate's roads.
"We aim to soon add rubber from recycled tyres to the asphalt, and the implementation date will not be any later than by the end of 2010. By using such a technique it will also contribute to raising the efficiency of pavement and roads, as well as improving the longevity of our projects," said a public works official. Officials also noted that the hot weather here is suitable for using this sort of material because the hotter it gets, the better the rubber supports the roads. Khalid Al Huraimel, general manager of Bee'ah, told Gulf News that the initiative was made after the tyre recycling plant in Al Saja'a industrial area was inaugurated two months ago.
"The machinery at the recycling plant first shreds the tyres, freezes it, and then turns it into powder. This end-material can be used for flooring in sport facilities and school playgrounds, and when it is mixed with asphalt it can then be used for the roads," explained Al Huraimel, adding that Bee'ah will be supplying the public works department with the recycled material.
By Mariam M. Al Serkal
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
