Environment.

The greener side of the network: low-carbon surfacing, recycled materials, EV charging infrastructure and the sector's route to net zero.

20 articles

Close-up of road surface showing improved texture after retexturing treatment in Wokingham

InfrastructureEnvironment

Road retexturing cuts carbon and costs by restoring grip without new material

Wokingham Borough Council uses road retexturing to restore surface texture and improve grip on worn roads, reducing carbon emissions and costs compared to full resurfacing.

September 2, 2026

Demolition site at University of Portsmouth clearing space for new civil engineering laboratory building

EnvironmentInfrastructure

Demolition clears way for civil engineering lab targeting Outstanding BREEAM rating

Demolition at the University of Portsmouth has begun to make way for a new civil engineering lab designed to test material and structural behaviour, aiming for the highest BREEAM UK sustainability rating.

September 2, 2026

Construction site with heavy machinery preparing for the M54-M6 link road in the West Midlands

InfrastructureEnvironment

£200m M54-M6 link road begins preparatory work to ease West Midlands traffic

National Highways has started preparation work on a £200 million link road connecting the M54 and M6 in the West Midlands, aiming to reduce strategic traffic through local villages by improving motorway connections and junctions.

September 1, 2026

Chickerell and Abbotsbury roads junction in Weymouth before roadworks start

InfrastructureEnvironment

Chickerell and Abbotsbury roads junction in Weymouth set for overhaul this September

Dorset Council begins work on 7 September to reconfigure the busy intersection of Chickerell Road and Abbotsbury Road in Weymouth, aiming to reduce delays and improve traffic flow.

September 1, 2026

Roads and homes flooded in Birmingham after sudden heavy rainfall overwhelming drainage

InfrastructureEnvironment

Flash flooding demands surface solutions, not bigger sewers

Recent flash flooding in Birmingham exposes limits of current drainage. Experts call for surface-level rainwater control to ease pressure on sewers and reduce flood damage.

August 28, 2026

Shropshire Council electric vehicle charging station with cars plugged in

EnvironmentInnovation

Shropshire council reviews EV charging tariffs to balance cost and access

Shropshire Council’s upcoming EV charging tariff review highlights the challenge of pricing electricity for public chargers while maintaining service sustainability and user access.

August 25, 2026

View of the newly opened 3.9-mile Kex Gill bypass road on the A59 avoiding unstable hillside in North Yorkshire

InfrastructureEnvironment

3.9-mile bypass bypasses Kex Gill’s unstable hillside on the A59

A new 3.9-mile section of the A59 in North Yorkshire reroutes traffic away from a landslip-prone hillside, restoring reliability to an important east–west route facing repeated closures.

August 25, 2026

Damaged section of A31 carriageway in New Forest showing heat damage after wildfire

InfrastructureEnvironment

Wildfire heat forces 1km rebuild of A31 in New Forest

Wildfire heat has damaged more than the surface of the A31 in the New Forest, forcing closure until the weekend for a full carriageway rebuild over around 1km.

August 20, 2026

Street lighting and public space improvements around Leicester city centre transport hub at night

InfrastructureEnvironment

£13m upgrade targets lighting and public spaces around Leicester transport hubs

Leicester city centre is set to receive £13m for upgraded lighting, signage and cleaner streets focused on routes around transport hubs and car parks, improving safety and wayfinding after dark.

August 18, 2026

LED street lighting installations in Torbay showing energy-efficient lamps at night

InnovationEnvironment

Torbay cuts energy use across 16,500 street lights with smarter tech

Torbay Council is upgrading 16,500 street lights with LED and dimming technology to reduce electricity use, carbon emissions and maintenance costs across its network.

August 18, 2026

Highways contractor removing roadside waste from the A14 verge at Claydon

InfrastructureEnvironment

2.3 tonnes of waste cleared from A14 verge at Claydon

Highways contractor Triplex collected 2.3 tonnes of waste from an A14 verge near Claydon. Removing roadside debris helps maintain drainage, safety and access on busy strategic routes.

August 17, 2026

Rural road in Highland region showing weathered surface and surrounding upland terrain

InfrastructureEnvironment

Almost 40% of Highland’s roads need maintenance, fourth worst in Scotland

Highland Council’s road network shows nearly two in five sections need maintenance, reflecting the challenges of weather, distance and infrastructure on rural Scottish roads.

August 17, 2026

EnvironmentInnovation

Gateshead Volunteers Collect 800+ Bags in Great British Spring Clean Campaign

Gateshead volunteers collect 800+ bags of roadside litter in the Great British Spring Clean, transforming highways and public spaces.

August 4, 2026

Close-up of solar-powered road studs embedded in UK highway surface at night

InfrastructureEnvironment

Road studs improve driver visibility and safety on UK roads

Road studs aid driver visibility by ensuring clear lane guidance, especially in low light and adverse weather. New technologies and asset management improve their safety impact on UK roads.

July 22, 2026

Battery-powered electric boiler used for quiet UK pothole repairs during day and night

InfrastructureEnvironment

Eight hours electric boiler cuts carbon and noise on UK pothole repairs

A new electric boiler for recycled rubber mastic cuts noise and downtime on pothole repairs. Multevo showcased this alongside two multi-machine ranges at the LCRIG festival.

July 21, 2026

Two conservation tunnels installed under Old Thornford Road for safe adder crossings

InfrastructureEnvironment

Two tunnels reconnect UK adder populations divided by road

Two specially designed tunnels under Old Thornford Road have reconnected isolated adder populations. Early monitoring shows snakes are using the routes, improving chances of species survival.

July 14, 2026

Diagram showing UK drainage system adapting to extreme weather conditions

EnvironmentInfrastructure

Four steps to safeguard UK drainage against rising drought and rainfall extremes

Predicted droughts and rising temperatures require UK drainage schemes to handle both water scarcity and extreme rainfall through four key design principles.

July 8, 2026

Re-flow PAS 2080 software interface showing carbon data integration on a construction site tablet

InnovationEnvironment

Carbon reporting cuts to minutes with Re-flow PAS 2080 module

Re-flow’s PAS 2080 add-on to its field management software captures carbon data in real time, eliminating extra effort and improving accuracy for UK highways contractors and authorities.

July 3, 2026

Industry experts discussing UK road resilience and infrastructure at a construction symposium

InfrastructureEnvironment

IAT Drives Industry Collaboration on Resilient UK Roads

The Institute of Asphalt Technology led discussions at a sector symposium, focusing on resilient road networks amid climate pressures and traffic growth across the UK.

June 8, 2026

UK construction workers using Re-flow field management software on tablets onsite

InnovationEnvironment

Seven reasons UK contractors choose Re-flow for field management

Contractors across UK highways and civils projects share why Re-flow’s industry-specific field management software streamlines workflows, enhances safety, and supports sustainability goals.

May 26, 2026