Roadways has been shortlisted for the CIHT Sustainability Award 2026, following its recent edie Award win for Product Innovation of the Year.
The nomination recognises the delivery of Cold bitumen emulsion based asphalt on the A259 Winchelsea and A26 Beddingham schemes, working in collaboration with National Highways, Jacobs, WSP, Nynas and Surrey Highway Laboratories.
A259 and A26 — applying standards more effectively
On both schemes, the scope of works was planing and resurfacing to binder course level only. As a result, only the binder layer (AC20 equivalent) was replaced, with no change to the existing pavement structure, design intent or specification requirements.
Cold bitumen emulsion based asphalt was deployed as a direct, like-for-like replacement for traditional hot mix binder, fully compliant with the operative Specification for Highway Works — including legacy Clause 948 or equivalent provisions in the updated 2025 MCHW.
This is a critical point:
• No redesign
• No change to layer thickness
• No departure from standards
• No change in client accountability
The result is a lower-risk, standards-compliant alternative delivered within existing highways frameworks.
Beyond binder — direct replacement for AC32 base layers
While the A259 and A26 schemes focused on binder replacement only, the same material can also be used as a direct replacement for AC32 base layers, where design and scheme scope allow.
This enables clients to apply the same benefits at greater depth within the pavement structure, including:
• Reduced reliance on heat-based asphalt production
• Lower material and delivery costs
• Improved programme flexibility
• Reduced logistics and haulage exposure
All while maintaining full compliance with UK highways standards.
Measurable outcomes — cost, risk and carbon
The delivery of cold bitumen emulsion asphalt on live schemes demonstrates how existing standards can be used to achieve:
• 40% lower embodied carbon (materials comparison)
• Typically ~20% lower production cost compared to hot/warm mix in current energy conditions
• Elimination of temperature-related delivery risk
• Improved programme certainty and reduced abortive works
• Full circular use of recycled asphalt, including tar-bound materials (encapsulated within a bound matrix via an Environment Agency–accepted reuse route)
The material uses 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), reducing demand for primary aggregates and supporting a circular approach to highway construction.
Tom Simmons, Senior Delivery Manager – South East, National Highways, commented:
“Roadways showed that cold recycled asphalt can be the sensible default for road base and binder on the SRN — standards-compliant, lower risk and commercially robust — when delivered by a contractor with the governance and self-delivery capability to control outcomes.”
“On the A259 and A26, Roadways demonstrated that cold recycled bitumen emulsion based asphalt can be deployed as a fully standards-compliant, like-for-like alternative to traditional base and binder on the SRN, without changing design intent or accountability.
What stood out was the reduction in delivery and commercial risk — no temperature dependency, fewer logistics constraints, and strong cost certainty — with industry-leading carbon savings.
This was only possible because Roadways combined National Highways–experienced governance with full self-delivery and in-house production, allowing technical discussions, change management, quality, programme and assurance to be controlled end-to-end.”
A delivery model aligned to sustainability and procurement
Roadways operates a fully self-delivered model, combining civils, surfacing and materials production, including in-house cold asphalt manufacturing and recycled aggregate supply from its Woodside Depot, East Sussex (BN27).
This integrated approach allows clients — including Tier 1 contractors, local authorities and developers — to deliver:
• Lower-risk infrastructure
• Greater cost certainty
• Reduced programme exposure
• Verified, standards-compliant sustainability outcomes
• Supporting long-term change through existing standards
The CIHT nomination reinforces a clear industry direction:
Lower-carbon, lower-risk highways can be delivered today — using existing standards, without changing specifications or accountability.
Roadways – Highways & Civil Engineering Contractor (South East UK)
For civil engineering, surfacing, cold asphalt supply or recycled aggregates in the South East, contact Roadways
📍 Woodside Depot, Polegate Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3PG
📞 01323 848 822
Roadways the right way — delivering lower-risk, standards-compliant infrastructure for over 60 years.