Repsol supplies 600 t of PMB 45/80-65 Activ modified bitumen in record time for the new A-33 highway between Jumilla and Yecla

On the occasion of the opening of the new A-33 highway connecting Jumilla and Yecla, Murcia by the Minister of Public Works Íñigo de la Serna, in October 600 t of PMB 45/80-65 Activ modified bitumen were supplied by the Puertollano factory in record time.

This highway offers an alternative to the old N-344 highway, which would make it possible to reduce current traffic intensity (5,500 vehicles/day with more than 23% of heavy traffic, according to data from the Ministry of Public Works).

The 23.4 kilometers of highway that connect Jumilla and Yecla have been subdivided into three subsections: the first, 7.3 km long, starts at the link road that connects to the N-344 highway.The second subsection comprises a length of 7.3 km and the third, 8.6 km long, ends at the RM-424 road in Yecla.

Subsection 2, from the MU-26-A road to the next junction with the same road, was executed by the UTE formed by Pavasal and FCC. The 3 cm thick bitumen mixture applied for the wearing course was a discontinuous BBTM 11B mixture manufactured using Repsol PMB 45/80-65 Activ modified bitumen. The aggregates used for the mixture were porphyritic gravel from Almonacid (Toledo) and porphyritic sand from Pórfidos del Mediterráneo (Abarán, Murcia). Given the nature of the aggregates, this binder improved aggregate-binder adhesiveness and endowed the bitumen mixture with excellent cohesion, greater durability, and reduced aging.

Mention must also be made of the technical characteristics of the polymer-modified bitumen produced by means of a proprietary reticulation system, through which a microscopically homogeneous structure is obtained, guaranteeing its storage stability.

The mixture manufactured at a CHM plant, following an agreement with PAVASAL, was used next to the A-33 El Carche Road, Las Encebras, in the municipality of Jumilla, and located 350 km from Puertollano.

The Repsol Asphalts plant in Puertollano, with a theoretical modified bitumen manufacturing capacity of 300 t/day, responded promptly to fulfill the customer's requirements, supplying 24 modified bitumen cisterns in two days.

Thanks to the coordination of the commercial, production, and logistics areas, it was once again possible to guarantee the supply of a product with every quality guarantee, effectively, and with the utmost safety.