A road bridge built from rubbish
21 October 2011
An enterprising Welsh company has just completed a European-first by turning 50 tonnes of waste plastic into a record 90 foot long road bridge suitable for heavy goods vehicles. Vertech partnered with Dawyck Estates, specialist bridge designer Cass Hayward LLP, Cardiff University’s School of Engineering, Rutgers University’s AAMIPP Department and Axion International – with support from the Welsh Assembly Government – to make the project a reality.
The bridge, spans the River Tweed at Easter Dawyck in Peeblesshire and forms part of the historic John Buchan Way. It was built off-site and assembled in just four days by a team from local Peebleshire contractor, Glendinning Groundworks, and ten Field Squadron (Air Support), Royal Engineers. Being made from plastic it won’t rust, requires no painting or regular maintenance - and, of course, is 100% recyclable.
Vertech hopes that this process can be used around Europe to make better use of our plastic waste and avoid sending it to landfill or shipping it to China. The company also plans to manufacture sheet materials using the same technology, which can be used by the construction sector as a replacement for plywood, MDF and laminates.
For more information about Vertech click here.