Paving Environmentally-Conscious Roads for our Communities

In the face of rising environmental impacts, Australia and New Zealand’s infrastructure needs a sustainable upgrade. At Hiway, we are a leader in low-carbon pavement engineering, introducing innovative, environmentally-conscious paving solutions that balance performance and sustainability. With over a decade of proven expertise, we are proving that building a resilient, environmentally-conscious transport network doesn’t have to come at a high cost.

Our communities deserve it and our environment depends on it. This vision aligns with the urgent global call for decarbonisation, but the adoption of innovative alternatives remains a challenge.

Core Competencies at the Heart of Innovation and Sustainability

Innovation, environmental responsibility and research & development are integral to HIWAY’s operations. Through in-situ recycling techniques, HIWAY delivers sustainable roads that outlast traditional methods, making them a driving force in low-carbon pavement engineering.

HIWAY’s Technical & Innovation Manager, Damien Edwards, encapsulates the urgent need for change:

"Our pavements are facing increasing pressure with climate changes and funding challenges. It is critical that the civil infrastructure industry embrace sustainable pavement systems and prioritise environmental stewardship for the entire pavement lifecycle."

The Horrocks Highway Case Study: A South Australian Success Story

One example of HIWAY’s innovative approach is the Horrocks Highway rehabilitation project - a key rural arterial road linking Adelaide to the mid-north of South Australia. HIWAY took on the challenge of rehabilitating a stretch of the highway between MM103 and MM121, improving its width and structural integrity.

Project Scope and Solutions

HIWAY applied an in-situ Lightly Bound Cemented Materials (LBCM) treatment, a method with a proven track record in Queensland and formalised by Austroads. This innovative solution involved mixing granular material with 1.5% cement to create a durable, homogenous pavement structure. The treatment met stringent design protocols and enhanced the ride quality, extending the pavement’s life.

Despite challenges such as limited pavement thickness and joint placement, HIWAY’s revisions resulted in a solution that improved the pavement’s durability and rideability.

Environmental & Economic Benefits

The Horrocks Highway rehabilitation project highlights the substantial environmental and economic advantages of HIWAY’s approach. By avoiding the use of 62,500 tonnes of imported materials and reducing approximately 2,600 one-way truck movements, HIWAY minimised carbon emissions associated with construction and transport. The LBCM method saved 123,000 Kg of CO2 compared to traditional methods, significantly reducing the project’s carbon footprint.

HIWAY’s solution also offered cost savings of $100,000 per kilometre with a total saving of $1.9 million in pavement construction. The streamlined process reduced project duration by 48 days, showcasing HIWAY’s unparalleled efficiency and commitment to delivering high-quality, low-cost solutions.

Addressing Challenges with Sustainable Solutions

HIWAY’s commitment to avoiding “bandaid” solutions is rooted in the understanding that short-term approaches come with long-term costs - both to the economy and the environment. By integrating advanced geotechnical investigations and laboratory mix designs, HIWAY ensures compliance with Austroads standards and client specifications, delivering projects that exceed quality benchmarks. This proactive approach allows for sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions that benefit both the community and the environment.

123,000

Kg of CO2 saved

The Future of Sustainable Roads Starts Here

As governments around the world ramp up efforts to achieve decarbonisation and sustainable development, HIWAY’s role as a leader in high-performance, eco-friendly paving solutions becomes ever more crucial. Our track record in projects like the Horrocks Highway demonstrates that our methodologies not only reduce carbon emissions but also cut costs and improve the overall quality of infrastructure.

While there may be resistance to adopting new technologies, HIWAY’s proven solutions show that sustainable infrastructure doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. HIWAY’s solutions prove that stabilisation is no longer what it used to be. With innovative methods that surpass traditional approaches, HIWAY offers the future of sustainable paving - roads that are built to last, with minimal impact on the planet.