Oxfordshire County Council is trialling a new low-carbon approach to road resurfacing on the B4445 in Chinnor.
The scheme will replace the existing carriageway surface and road markings, alongside verge clearance and drainage improvements. A package of lower-carbon materials and construction techniques is expected to reduce emissions by more than 30 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared with conventional resurfacing.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Construction and Repairs, said: “This project represents an exciting opportunity to bring together several industry-leading innovations within a single scheme and better understand how they can help us reduce carbon emissions from highway maintenance.
“Importantly, the trial is about more than carbon reduction alone. We are also exploring how these technologies can improve durability, reduce future maintenance requirements and support better long-term outcomes for Oxfordshire’s road network.”
Measures include lower-carbon asphalt, thermal joint heating, cold-applied road markings, electric plant, solar-powered welfare cabins and biodiversity improvements.
The B4445 will close in three phases. Initial preparation and drainage work will take place from Monday 21 to Friday 25 September, followed by resurfacing and road marking work from Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October.
A final closure from Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 October will allow drainage improvements and verge reinstatement to be completed.
A signed diversion will be in place during the closures, with the road reopened outside working periods whenever it is safe to do so.