Self-watering ‘green’ roadblocks to arrest a surge in post-lockdown traffic, and recycled plastic kerbs for new pop-up cycle lanes will both be employed in London as the capital re-emerges from lockdown.
Climate action charity Possible has created the self-watering
concrete roadblock, with the first wave of six blocks installed in Chiswick by
the London Borough of Hounslow.
The standard concrete roadblocks were adapted to embed rainwater
reservoirs beneath recesses planted with a selection of drought-tolerant
species. They are designed using ‘PermaVoid’ rainwater reservoirs developed by
Polypipe to capture and store rainwater naturally and can keep plants supplied
with water for up to six weeks between rainfall.
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Leo Murray, director of innovation at Possible, said: “Wooden
planters are one of the best ways to manage traffic, but although they are very
low cost to install, they can come with a hefty and potentially off-putting
maintenance bill for cash-strapped councils. They can also be vulnerable to
drivers of larger vehicles frustrated at having their passage barred. Our
Concrete Jungle blocks combine the best of both approaches - cheap to make and
maintain, yet still bursting with life - and impossible to push aside, even
with an SUV.”
Meanwhile, Transport for London has been supplied with ‘bolt-down’
kerbs made entirely from recycled plastic by manufacturer Durakerb, for a
series of new pop-up cycle lanes in the city.
Earlier this year, transport secretary Grant Shapps pledged to
invest £250m in new pop-up cycle lanes, wider pavements, safer
junctions and bus-only corridors in England.
Durakerb’s bolt-on kerb design can be easily installed and
removed, meaning that lanes can be swiftly introduced and altered as measures
to attack the pandemic change. The kerbs are now at a depot in Beckton, ready
to be deployed by London councils as required.
Phil Sutton, managing director at Econpro, the parent company
of Durakerb said: “We’re delighted to be supporting London’s efforts to become
a greener city. Dangerous emissions at some of the capital’s busiest roads fell
by almost 50% during lockdown according to the Mayor of London, and it is
fantastic that we are able to contribute to cleaner air and safer streets.
“As other parts of the country modify their roads to encourage
more pedestrians and cyclists, we hope that councils consider using our ‘bolt
on’ kerb units to further improve their environmental credentials and ensure
social distancing remains possible.”
