Highways Materials Sampling and Testing

To ensure the quality of materials and workmanship across the counties Highway network the council have in conjunction with industry engagement developed a sampling and testing strategy to confirm contractors engaged in the delivery of new Highways schemes and on-going maintenance of the counties network diligently adhere to the specified method of construction and use only specified materials that are fit for purpose and of acceptable quality, guaranteeing the continued safety and durability of the counties roads.

Coal tar is a potentially hazardous material which was used in road construction and maintenance processes in the UK prior to 1980. European Directives which were implemented in the UK by The Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 and The List of Waste Regulations 2005 classify certain materials containing tar as “Hazardous Waste”. This classification then invokes restrictions on methods of use and disposal of these materials.

If any form of excavation in a bituminous pavement is required in a scheme then the Designer has a duty under the regulations to determine whether or not any of the materials encountered could be hazardous waste. The Designer also has a duty to minimise construction hazards, and inform the Contractor of any remaining hazards, under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

In addition, if not properly managed the presence of tar-bound material can greatly increase the cost of a scheme, which can be mitigated through the gaining of information from sampling and testing.

Accordingly Somerset County Council is looking to procure a programme of material testing and sampling, coring and testing for a number of sites across the county. The data will assist the Council to ensure the quality of materials and identify the presence of tar in the bituminous layers of the pavement and in addition be used to identify and plan suitable remediation through programmes of highway maintenance activities.