As reported by Cape Town Etc, the project will reduce maintenance costs in the long run. In addition, it will be a positive use of the countries excessive supply of plastic materials.
Kouga Municipality collaborated with South Africans engineers. They will also work with MacRebur, a Scottish company, to kickstart the groundbreaking project in the Eastern Cape.
Kouga Mayor Horatio Hendricks said in a statement that the backlog for road repairs in the region exceeds R500m. It has an impact on the financially-strong district. He explains:
“We simply do not have the rates-base to deal with this backlog decisively. The DA-led Kouga Council has, therefore, been looking for innovative ways to slay this giant since taking power in the municipality in 2016.”
Environmentally and economically sustainable
The plastic roads are said to last longer than traditional tar roads. It will be made from recycled plastic materials broken down into pellets. MacRebur already tested the viability of plastic roads in the United Kingdom.
It will, however, be the first road of its kind in South Africa. DA MPL Vicky Knoetze confirmed potholes would be a thing of the past. She explained that “water won’t be able to seep through as easily.”
Construction team hard at work. Photo: MacRebur
In addition, roads made from recycled plastic materials will last three times longer with less upkeep required. She explained that about 1.5 tons of plastic will be used for a kilometre of road. That means it will eliminate tons of plastic from landfills.
Hendricks said they are excited about the benefits of the project. The state of roads have a devastating impact on the surrounding communities and economy. He adds:
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