The objective of the DURABROADS project, an EU 7th Framework Programme financed project (2013-2017) is the design, development and demonstration of cost-effective, eco-friendly and optimized long-life roads, more adapted to freight corridors and climate change by means of innovative designs and the use of greener materials improved by nanotechnology. Some its results are to be presented. It optimized asphalt pavement types and rehabilitation procedures for heavily trafficked European roads considering the synergistic effect of extreme climatic and mechanical loads. The European-wide questionnaire survey based quantification methodology included functional, economic, environmental and social-human aspects with weighing. After having used several statistical methods, weighted geometric means were applied to aggregate individual opinions into a consensual judgment. At the end, Stone Mastic Asphalt happened to be the most appropriate wearing course type. Based on the research conducted in DURABROADS project, it can be concluded that the addition of slags (up to 30%), RAP (up to 35%), WMA additive and bitumen improved with nanotechnology (actually by carbon black), either separately or combined, had no negative influence on the final properties (e.g. compactibility, stiffness, water sensitivity, resistance to permanent deformation and fatigue) of the asphalt mix. Guidelines were also issued to detail the procedures for the production and utilization for the “DURABROADS mixture” thus encouraging its implementation and harmonization within the EU road infrastructure sector and neighbour countries. The criteria to include the DURABROADS solutions into Green Public Procurement procedures were also defined, along with the recommendations of the next steps to be followed for the future standardization of DURABROADS mixture.

asphalt pavements, industrial by-product, warm mix asphalt, nanotechnology, sustainability