Shell Instapave for Rural Roads

Bringing our global knowledge, Shell Bitumen works hard to find products and solution systems that suits the needs of developing countries.  Following our experiences in the Philippines, we are now looking to develop the ideas to improve rural roads in other regions throughout the world, starting with India and Latin America. 

Social Benefits

The Shell Bitumen team in the Philippines began to were the first to recognise the problems caused by a huge network of unpaved, gravel/earth roads. In the Philippines, approximately 78% of the total road network, equivalent to 155,000 kilometers is gravel roads.  Being an archipelago of over than 7,100 islands, the road network is one of the biggest in the ASEAN region. Recognising the improvements that  social and environmental benefits could bring to this area, the team developed a fit-for-purpose solution for the region.

>> Shell Instapave 'Road in a Tin' Feature

A quality road brings many social benefits. Children have wider access to schools, farmers can reach markets and families have improved access to healthcare in hospitals. The local environment is improved since paved roads Shell Instapave dramatically reduces the dust that is generated by gravel roads as dust can be a major source of lung disease in the developing world. 

How It works

Shell Instapave Solution is considerably cheaper than the conventional alternatives of concrete or asphalt hot mix. It produces a surface that is suitable for light to medium traffic that makes it ideal for rural areas. The price makes it an attractive alternative to the costs of re-graveling roads twice a year. Shell Instapave enables local governments to afford projects which replace gravel roads with pavement.

So what is Shell Instapave?

One Shell Instapave solution could be a 4-step process that must be preceded by the preparation of a well-drained strong base. The four steps are:

1. Priming -spraying of a low-viscosity asphalt-based primer
2. Chip Course - spraying a high-viscosity binder, followed by chip spreading, after which the surface is rolled
3. Fog Seal - a high stability bituminous coating diluted with water
4. Slurry Course - a high viscosity bituminous coating blended with aggregate, additive and water, mixed and spread by a controlled spreader box

But this is only one possibility for an Shell Instapave solution. The technology depends on the requirements for each specific country and project.

>> Play the Shell Instapave video [link opens in a new window]