NHAI trials reclaimed bitumen on stretch of Chennai-Tirupathi National Highway

The technology, developed two years ago, has been tried out in small sections so far. (Representative photo) | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR A 1 km-long stretch of the access-controlled Chennai-Tirupathi National Highway that is currently being widened has been laid by utilising 60% of the asphalt pavement that had been reclaimed from the old road and rejuvenated. This successful field demonstration for bitumen was possible thanks to technology developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI). The top bituminous layer of the road, which has been in use for several years, loses its elasticity. CSIR – CRRI has developed a rejuvenating additive that can be added to cold-milled material to strengthen it for reuse in road laying, explained Chalumuri Ravi Sekhar, Director, CSIR – CR