INSIDE A ROAD-PAVING MACHINE
How these specialised vehicles pave the way for smooth and long-lasting roads
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
Over 25 million tonnes of asphalt is made in the UK each year, which has resulted in a network of over 250,000 miles of paved roads in the country. A properly paved road can last around 20 years, but this depends on the strength and material of the road, as well as environmental factors. The most common materials used are asphalt and concrete. Asphalt consists of rock, tar or gravel, and concrete is made of water, sand and cement.