On Tuesday 13 January, a major milestone for sustainable transport infrastructure was reached in Cantabria, where the first road paved with bioasphalt was officially opened to traffic. The pilot section was implemented within the LIAISON project along the N-623 road, in the municipality of Revilla de Camargo.
The experimental installation consists of a 60-metre section paved with bioasphalt, alongside an additional 60-metre reference section built with conventional materials. This side-by-side configuration will allow researchers to assess bioasphalt performance under real traffic conditions and demonstrate the feasibility of full-scale production.
The LIAISON project explores the use of bioasphalt in road construction as a way to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with both construction and maintenance activities. In this pilot, a biobinder with 40% bio-based content was used, capable of fully replacing traditional petroleum-derived bitumen without compromising performance.
The bioasphalt mixture was developed by the GITECO research group at the University of Cantabria, and it has demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, as well as high recyclability. This work represents an important step toward the adoption of circular economy principles in road infrastructure.
The successful completion of the pilot section was made possible through close collaboration between the University of Cantabria, the Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and CEDEX – the Centre for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works, with construction works carried out by GICSA.
The road section will now be monitored over time to validate its long-term performance, durability, and environmental benefits. The results will provide valuable evidence to support the wider adoption of bioasphalt solutions in future transport infrastructure projects, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient road network.
Photo credit: Irune Indacoechea, University of Cantabria
