Highways Bulletin: Guildford Trial Paves the Way for Greener Roads

Published on: 20 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 23 Jul, 2025

The information for this bulletin comes from Surrey County Council and is written by them.

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We have successfully completed an innovative road resurfacing trial on Worplesden Road, Guildford, made possible by a funding contribution from the Surrey Lane Rental Scheme.

This marks the first use of ACLA®, a carbon-negative aggregate, within the county. This scheme forms part of Surrey Highways’ wider ambition to lead in sustainable road construction and reduce the carbon footprint of its highway maintenance operations.

The trial incorporated ACLA [believed to stand for “Accelerating Low Carbon Aggregate”] to decarbonise asphalt, developed by Low Carbon Materials (LCM), within the binder course of the asphalt. To minimise disruption to residents and road users, the resurfacing was undertaken overnight, with all works completed within a tightly managed timeframe.

The new aggregateis a carbon sink, utilising the carbon removal technology of sequestration to permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Tests confirm that each tonne of ACLA has removed 798 kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We used 13 tonnes of during the trial. In total, approximately 260 tonnes of asphalt were laid, resulting in the permanent removal and storage of an estimated 10,400 kg of CO2.

This initiative supports Surrey County Council’s broader strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions and demonstrates the potential for innovative materials to contribute meaningfully to that goal. The use of ACLA not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also promotes a circular economy by reducing reliance on virgin aggregate extraction.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Growth at Surrey County Council said: “I’m delighted that our lane rental scheme has contributed to the funding of this innovative resurfacing solution on a busy road in Guildford.”

“Surrey is one of only four highway authorities in England to operate this scheme, which involves charging companies for lane and road closures on the busiest roads at peak times, to reduce congestion and keep traffic moving.”

“Since its inception in 2021, over £5.4 million has been raised to fund a range of local road improvements across the county.”

Find out more about our progress on becoming a carbon free county – Our progress on becoming a carbon free county – Surrey County Council

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For details of roadworks in the Guildford area please click here.