St. Petersburg has introduced a new era of eco-friendly road construction, importing colored and fragrant asphalt to replace traditional gray pavements, says WPB. The initiative is aimed at beautifying the cityscape and reducing the environmental footprint of roadworks across the city.
A recent shift towards a more colorful cityscape
Modern cities worldwide are bidding farewell to dull gray in favor of more welcoming, human-oriented spaces. St. Petersburg has not been an exception to this global trend, introducing colored asphalt into its infrastructure to make cityscape more attractive and navigation easier. The use of distinctive colors not only strengthens the visual identity of public space but also influences psychological comfort—warm colors such as brown produce a sensation of warmth, and cool colors such as blue help to calm.
Technology and Sustainability in Practice
This change is made possible by technology from St. Petersburg firm ABZ-1, a Russian developer of colored asphalt concrete technology. Over 50 city projects have already utilized the environmentally friendly material, which is cited as being long-lasting and recyclable. Instead of surface paint, the color is integrated into the asphalt, ensuring color longevity through years of use.
The technology is already being implemented in the key city projects, for instance, the embankment of the Bolshaya Nevka and a local skate park. Particularly, in 2024, they were recognized by the Russian Ministry of Construction and included in the federal registry of best practices, with the city's blue asphalt bike path ranking fourth on the national level.
The Scented Asphalt Revolution
One of the most striking innovations in the sector is the introduction of scented asphalt, developed to remove bitumen's pungent odor. The product is now able to emit pleasant fragrances—from berries to vanilla—through natural additives that are nontoxic to the environment and even food production. The first tests were carried out in the Morozov Gardeners' Cooperative in the Leningrad Region, where residents and project partners enjoyed the innovation.
Beyond Color: Repair and Protection
ABZ-1 keeps adding to its portfolio innovative rapid-repair asphalt mixtures, which have the ability to harden in half an hour, even in wet conditions, without the use of heavy equipment. Radio-absorbing asphalt is another innovation, which is aimed at reducing exposure to electromagnetic radiation in cities.
Toward a Circular Asphalt Economy
Sustainability in the road industry of St. Petersburg is no longer a choice but a necessity, stress the experts. Urbanist Yevgeny Vanichev points out the necessity to lower the temperature of asphalt production and increase the share of recycled materials. The recycling of asphalt and rubber modifiers from worn-out tires not only enhances road performance and grip but also lowers the city's carbon footprint by up to 20%. This circular solution addresses environmental and waste management problems, making road construction smarter and cleaner.
St. Petersburg's embrace of environmentally friendly and technologically advanced asphalt solutions demonstrates how traditional infrastructure can be pushed towards sustainability. The city sets an example for other cities worldwide striving for greener and more sustainable living environments through innovation, color, and care for the environment.
By Bitumenmag
Asphalt, Bitumen, News
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