Some of the most damaged rural roads in the county are set to be repaired using green technology that pulverises the old road surface. 

Specialist machinery that can break down the old surface material and reuse it along with new materials is set to be used by Buckinghamshire Council. 

The council says the technology will reduce their carbon footprint, save money and resouces and will allow long-lasting repairs to be made much quicker, and is part of their £100 million four-year roads programme. 

In three phases, it will tackle some of the ‘failing roads’ where the filling and refilling of potholes is not enough to maintain the road surface to an adequate standard.

These are generally more rural roads, originally simple tracks, that were never designed to carry the amount of traffic they now do.

As traffic levels have increased over the years, the road surfaces have deteriorated and foundations subsided to such an extent that normal plane and patch repair work is not enough.

The repair work is carried out using a process called Regen, which has been trialled previously in other parts of the county.

Crews break up the existing road surface, the materials are then pulverised on site, spread out and compacted to create a level surface.

A small amount of cement mixed with water, binds the materials together and creates a solid structure.

The surface is then covered with bitumen and stone chippings, sealing it to prevent water getting in.

The process is specifically designed for rural roads with a relatively low volume of traffic and would not be suitable on bigger roads with higher traffic flows.

It reportedly improves air quality because there is no need to use hot asphalt, is quicker and uses fewer materials. 

It is also cheaper, as the cost is £22-£28 per square metre compared to £75-£100 per square metre for more conventional methods. 

Cllr Steve Broadbent, the Bucks Council cabinet member for transport explained: “The use of this recycling approach in this latest programme is a great example of where we are thinking differently to make the improvements we need while achieving value for money and environmental benefits too.

"Although it is not designed for larger roads, it is an approach that is ideal for some of the smaller roads where repairs are needed.

"It is just one element of our wider and longer term investment in Buckinghamshire's roads, during which we will make use of the best techniques with available resources, to improve as many of our roads as possible for residents and road users.”

In the first phase of the works, four roads in the north of the county are being targeted - Chapel Lane/Akeley Road, Akeley, Heet Road in Marsh Gibbon and Marsh Gibbon Road and Shipton Lee Road in Edgcott.