Louth County Council introduces innovative road repair method

Dundalk-Carlingford representative Cllr John Reilly, highlighted at the November monthly meeting of Louth County Council, the successful completion of road repairs at Moorland, Lisdoo, using what he said is a groundbreaking new technique.

Cllr Reilly said that this marks the first road repair in north Louth utilizing Recycled Asphalt Plaining (RAP). RAP, the Fine Gael councillor explained, is a sustainable method that repurposes asphalt from previous roadworks combined with a cement-based compound.

Unlike traditional asphalt, RAP can be laid using conventional methods without the need for high-temperature heating, making it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Senior Engineer with Louth County Council, Mark Johnston has been instrumental in driving this innovation forward, Cllr Reilly added, and commending the initiative, suggesting that RAP could become the standard approach for improving rural roads under the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) and Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).

“This is a positive step toward more sustainable and efficient road maintenance,” said Cllr Reilly. “It offers a practical solution for rural areas while reducing waste and lowering carbon emissions.”

Read also: Dundalk residents invited to shape the future of the Long Walk area as part of the final draft Urban Regeneration Framework Plan