‘Plastic’ streets in Reggio, this time (finally) here we are. The experimentation is underway

Good… the fourth. Green asphalt experiment in Reggio Calabria, the start of the experiment is finally close. In various circumstances, at least three, on these pages we have anticipated the start of the works in Via Filippini, with the laying of an innovative and particular asphalt.

Hiccups of various kinds up to now have definitely slowed down the journey but this time it should be the right time. According to what has been gathered, work is expected to begin on Monday 6 May (5 days expected) for the laying of the innovative road surface.

The former city councilor Gianluca Califano, since the first days after taking over the city council from the then suspended Saverio Anghelone, had launched the idea.

“To solve the age-old problem of potholes, proposing the installation of plastic roads. I’m not talking about a utopia, but about something feasible and decisive, the implementation of graphene and entirely recyclable plastic blocks, to favor the environmental impact and say goodbye to this criticality.

The pilot program, in which theMediterranean University of Reggio Calabriawhich involves the use of a bituminous conglomerate containing tire residues and has a formulation that has been tested for a long time and subsequently developed on a real scale, has already achieved considerable success both in Nantes (France) and in Florence and is now ready to land in the city of the Strait.

In the past, one of the professors of the Department of Engineering (UniRC) illustrated the peculiarities of this particular bitumen, composed of a mixture of plastic and rubber material:

“The idea, born in collaboration with (formerly) councilor Califano, – explained the prof. Filippo Praticò – is to replicate the European project in Reggio Calabria, thus decreasing the sound impact and more. Suffice it to say that the bituminous conglomerate is also composed of pulverized tyres.

What does this mean? Reduce the entry of waste into landfill and, given the need to insert it into the compound to create green asphalt, if it were possible to find this “ingredient” in the area a virtuous circle could also be activated in the economic field” .

Green asphalt, currently under consideration for only Via Filippiniwould also contribute to responding to the European request to public administrations to adaptation to environmental criteria for them streets.

The plastic roads, however, already widely used in various parts of Europe, represent a true miracle of sustainability compared to traditional roads. For example, the longer duration in terms of “life” would represent a real godsend for the problems of Reggio Calabria.