Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ajax tests asphalt recycling technology on Rossland Road
The Town of Ajax is testing a locally developed asphalt recycling technology on Rossland Road as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing road rehabilitation costs and environmental impacts.
The town has retained Forest Contractors Ltd. to resurface Rossland Road between Audley Road and Lake Ridge Road using Hot In-Place Recycling (HIR) technology.
Construction was scheduled to begin Oct. 29, 2026, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, weather permitting. The work was initially delayed because of a contractor’s equipment breakdown.
The HIR process heats, rejuvenates and reuses existing asphalt directly on-site to create a renewed road surface, reducing the need for new materials.
The town estimates the approach will cost approximately 44 per cent less than traditional resurfacing methods. It also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 72 per cent and petroleum-based material use by 74 per cent.
With full reconstruction of the road section anticipated in 2030 or 2031, the pilot is intended to provide an interim solution while the town evaluates the technology’s performance.
“This pilot project reflects the Town’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and responsible infrastructure investment,” Mayor Shaun Collier said in a statement. “By exploring locally developed technology, we are finding smarter, more efficient ways to maintain our roads while supporting solutions that can benefit both our community and the environment.”
The recycling equipment is engineered and maintained locally in Ajax. The town will monitor road conditions and the technology’s performance over the next four years to assess whether it could be used on other municipal roads.
Ranil Fernando, the town’s manager of infrastructure and asset management, said the project will help inform future road maintenance decisions.
“This project provides an opportunity to address immediate road conditions while testing a cost-effective and environmentally responsible rehabilitation method,” Fernando said. “Monitoring its performance over the next four years will help inform future decisions about maintaining and improving our road network.”
The work is being completed through the town’s existing 2026 road resurfacing contract.
