Are rubber roads the future?

Roads made of rubber could be coming to our friends across the pond in Britain. The first implementation of such technology would come from converting old railyways into roads by filling the gaps between the rails with rubber mats, reports the Times. Not to be confused with the asphalt-rubber mix used for some roads here in North America, these roads would be made entirely of rubber.





The rubber would be similar to the material used to make it possible for cars to pass over railway crossings.

"It is quicker and cheaper to lay than tarmac, and quieter," explained proprietor Peter Coates Smith told AutoExpress. "It doesn't pothole, and any damaged mats can be replaced simply."

Coates Smith said the roads would cost Ã'£1.2m a mile compared with Ã'£20m a mile for regular roads. While it wasn't clear if the reduced cost was due to the fact that old railways would be used as the basis for these roads, it still sounds like an economical plan.

Such a plan would also help appease environmentalists, who would undoubtedly be pleased to know that literally millions of old tires could be recycled for this purpose.

The Leftlane Perspective: If such roads were really quieter, smoother, provided more traction, and were cost-effective, we'd love to see all roads made this way. No more potholes? We can only dream...