Transport – the missing element

This note is designed to reveal some of the key myths surrounding the UK road industry and point a way forward that could revolutionize UK transport. Remarkably, the approach suggested will increase revenues to the government, reduce pollution and increase UK competitiveness. It is the ultimate “win-win”, all created by technology.

97% of all journeys in the UK are by car, and will continue to be. The idea that significant numbers of people can be diverted onto the rail network has been proved over the last 10 years to be fallacious. Furthermore, road travel provides a fantastic “market” for travel. When the roads are quiet, journeys are quick. When not, journeys still happen, just more slowly. Because of the infinite flexibility of journey times, people do travel out of peak times as much as possible. Furthermore, as home working increases through the adoption of new technology, more travel will be for leisure purposes – by its nature much more flexible than business travel.

The problems of course with road use are firstly its cost, and secondly the impact upon the environment. However, because it is the life blood of the economy, any idea that it should be restricted through fiscal or other means could have a significant impact upon the UK economy at a time when global competition means that UK companies need to control costs more than ever before.

Costs to the taxpayer

The UK road network (comprising some 2.5bn m2) currently costs the UK taxpayer around £1.5bn a year to maintain. Unfortunately this is an under-spend of around £1bn per year (source ALARM survey 2006). Since asphalt lasts around 10 years, the impact of this under-spend is going to be severe. The CBI estimates that road disruption costs the UK economy some £20bn a year (or around £8bn to the UK exchequer assuming a 40% overall tax take). Clearly at current rates of spending, this is going to increase significantly, without taking account of expected transport growth. The asphalt alliance (consulted by government and the opposition as if they know what they are talking about, when in fact they are a body seeking merely to increase the amount of asphalt that is bought) promotes a significant increase in expenditure (the £1bn a year plus eradication of the backlog – some £10bn). It is simply not necessary.

A quick technical lesson on asphalt. 94% of an asphalt wearing course (the important bit) is made of sand and stone. It never wears out. Literally. The other 6% is bitumen – the glue. This works because like all glue it holds a negative ionic charge. This 6% does wear out – very quickly – by a process rather like rusting. Actually the impact of the atmosphere and sunshine makes it lose this ionic charge – on a hot day you can see the shimmer as the aromatic oils come out of the road. Furthermore, as the oil price has risen, the quality of the glue has been reduced as more and more of the aromatics are used in other processes (Mr McAdam invented the product to use up waste materials).

So the current solution to road ownership is based in the early 20th Century. Lay the road at great expense, and then do nothing until it falls apart. Then patch the worst bits (current methods are defined by HAPAS as “temporary” repairs) to try to get a bit of extra life, then finally throw it all away (remember 94% is in perfect condition) and re-lay it at great expense. This does not take into account the indirect costs of disruption or the immense cost to the environment (see below). If a road was a new window, it would be treated and cared for so that it could last decades. Because of a combination of factors – ignorance, vested interest, laziness, financial mismanagement – the same approach has been used to this issue since the product was invented (and I cannot think of another example of such stubborn adherence to the status quo) and it lasts only a few years.

The Rhinophalt and Rhinopatch solution

Now the good news. Chemical technology has been developed that reverses the effects of oxidation on the binder. This chemical is spray applied to an existing road surface at the minimum rate of around 20,000 m2 per day (The process is called Rhinophalt). Conventional resurfacing is at the rate of 2,000m2 per day. Furthermore we have a patching process that delivers truly “permanent” repairs (as per HAPAS) called Rhinopatch, so roads can be brought up to standard and then rejuvenated.

Now the even better news. Rhinophalt is applied every 4-5 years, and is around 80% cheaper than existing resurfacing. It is 90% quicker with a commensurate reduction in road disruption. Rhinopatch is around 50% cheaper than existing and is permanent, not temporary. The road will never wear out if it is maintained properly. So, if the existing budget was re-allocated to this new technology, with the exception of roads that have to be re-surfaced because they are in such bad condition, the budget requirement would remain at £1.5bn. This is an annual saving of £1bn, and the £10bn backlog would rapidly disappear. Furthermore, given that most traffic disruption is due to road works, and we reduce road repair times by 90%, a 50% reduction in the CBI figures would generate at least £4bn of extra revenue to the exchequer. So new technology could drive at least a £5bn gain to the government for spending on other transport initiatives (or elsewhere).

Now the best news of all. Independent analysis has concluded that Rhinopatch reduces the carbon emissions involved in patch repair by over 80%. Rhinophalt reduces emissions by over 90%! And this does not take into account the savings from cars sitting in traffic jams as a result of road repairs (because no one has any idea what the number is, but we will reduce that figure by 90% too. Finally, because both processes are essentially quiet they can be done in cities at night and at times of low traffic usage.

Transport is a centrally managed Government asset (despite what anyone says). It is one area of the economy that can be changed -and probably can only be changed - by government intervention. This technology, like so many other innovations, falls victim to the fact that the Government calls out for innovation and then refuses to be seen to promote a company’s products? So, given that; let’s simply focus on the issue – 94% of the asset thrown away every 10 years:

These simple measures will have a very dramatic impact upon the road network, the environment and the economy. Remarkably this is an opportunity that will generate money while improving our infrastructure and people’s lives.

For more information, please call Sonia McLintock 0771 261 3887.