Erbach-based company develops sustainable alternative to conventional construction
Germany's transport infrastructure is facing enormous challenges: Many roads are in need of rehabilitation, while costs for materials, personnel, and landfill space are rising. A company from Erbach in the Odenwald region has now developed a process that could make road and path construction more efficient and environmentally friendly.
The core of the approach is the stabilization of the existing soil beneath the future road surface. Instead of costly excavation and replacement of the subsoil with gravel, the soil is treated on-site with a biodegradable binder. Combined with a small amount of cement, this creates a load-bearing subbase onto which the asphalt surface can be applied directly.
According to the company, the advantages are obvious: significantly less excavation, lower material consumption, faster construction times, and a potential savings of 20 to 30 percent of construction costs. Furthermore, there is no need to dispose of the soil in a landfill – an aspect that not only saves money but also conserves scarce landfill space.
The first practical applications are already underway in Germany and abroad. Roads were built using this process as early as 2019, and they continue to withstand even extreme climatic conditions. In Germany, the method has been tested in Thuringia, among other places: In Buttstädt, a 250-meter-long cycle path was renovated in just one day. Instead of the estimated €80,000, the cost was around €53,500 – a noticeable difference for the municipal coffers.
The process could therefore be particularly interesting for cities and municipalities that want to maintain or expand their road and cycling infrastructure. Given the scarcity of public funds, experts see the technology from the Odenwald region as a potential future model for sustainable and cost-effective road construction.
(RED/vz)
