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 £1.2m a mile compared with £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…
05/10, 9:35 AM
posted by:
50c
so gangsta
05/10, 12:08 PM
posted by:
Ryan
No potholes? Even in MI? Heaven on earth!!!
05/10, 12:13 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
can you say, “Traction”!
05/10, 1:33 PM
posted by:
jonas
I can just see big rubber chunks peeling up and flying everywhere like when 18 wheelers shed tire treads… Those things cause a lot of damage…
05/10, 1:37 PM
posted by:
Carlos
Hm, too much grip will increase rollovers. Could be fun though.
05/10, 1:42 PM
posted by:
wickedated
What happens when its 100F outside for a week straight? Gooey roads?
05/10, 1:57 PM
posted by:
Will
#2 hahah MI roads are ****ty I just spent a year there lol fun though if u wanna screw around in the snow till u hit a hidden pot hole
05/10, 5:13 PM
posted by:
XPsionic
Rubber roads = wear out every 2 weeks
05/10, 5:18 PM
posted by:
tireburner
…ya but imagine the burnouts the kids will be doing!!!!
by the way- I travel “rubber road test sections” on the way to the cottage and really don’t notice any difference
05/10, 5:48 PM
posted by:
.:: tosta mista ::.
Lunacy…
05/10, 6:11 PM
posted by:
Sandman
Shan’t they think of something different? All this tarmac and rubber bull**** is eating up our gas reserves – anyone think why petrol is so bloody expensive here in Europe??? Recycling old tyres, yea, great – you believe that?#4 Jonas is right. The trucks are a scourge of the road.
05/10, 10:01 PM
posted by:
manny
arent drag strips coated in rubber? and what happens when it rains?
05/11, 1:01 AM
posted by:
Rene Curry
It would give a new meaning to saying “my car handles like it’s on rails” :’)
05/11, 3:23 AM
posted by:
Bob Smith
well u can change or and compounds where rubber does not melt as easily, and can last longer however unless they make some grips or something to provide traction, what will happen when it rains?
05/11, 7:54 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
wickedated: luckily london has 2 days of summer a yr
05/11, 5:25 PM
posted by:
Thing2
in regards to the consumption of petroleum based plastics and rubbers, they’ve developed methods to use lycene from orange oil to create rubber, no joke…
05/11, 5:25 PM
posted by:
Thing2
n regards to the consumption of oil for petroleum based….