Por María Izquierdo 
Jesus Puerta, General Director of Roads and Infrastructure, participated in the conference ‘More Sustainable Bituminous Mixtures’, highlighting the pioneering work of the regional administration in the search for alternative means that are more environmentally friendly and aligned with the principles of the circular economy in the construction and maintenance of roads.
May 22, 2025
Castilla y León |
Ministry of Mobility and Digital Transformation
The Castilla y León Regional Government has established itself as a pioneer in the implementation of sustainable technical solutions in the field of roads. Its strong commitment to modernizing road surfaces, researching more efficient bituminous mixtures, and promoting public works that are respectful of the environment position it as a national benchmark in the transition towards greener, safer, and more resilient mobility.
Jesús Puerta, General Director of Roads and Infrastructure for the Castilla y León Regional Government, presented this pioneering work at the inauguration of the specialized course ‘More Sustainable Bituminous Mixtures’, a technical forum that brings together industry experts to discuss the latest innovations in ecological and resilient pavement.
During his speech, Puerta emphasized the involvement and commitment of the attendees, highlighting the importance of training and dialogue spaces that allow for continuous progress in the sustainability and efficiency of road infrastructure. «We all desire to live in harmony with our environment. Applying these principles to our immediate surroundings should be the guiding light for us,» he stated.
Puerta recalled that Castilla y León is at the forefront of using environmentally friendly technologies in the field of roads, thanks to the joint efforts of the government and sector companies. «We are leading the pack in the asphalt world. It’s clear that together we make a good mixture and that’s how we want to continue: mixed, but not stirred,» he declared, in a nod to the course’s title.
The conference, organized in collaboration with institutions, research centers, and sector companies, aims to analyze solutions that reduce the environmental impact of road surfaces, promoting material reuse, energy savings, and road safety.
The Castilla y León Regional Government reaffirms its commitment to a more sustainable, modern, and environmentally friendly mobility, advocating for continuous training and shared innovation as essential tools for building the future of infrastructure. Real Impact Innovation: Castilla y León, a benchmark in road sustainability As part of its strategy to promote more sustainable infrastructure, the Castilla y León Regional Government is implementing pioneering actions to incorporate environmentally friendly solutions aligned with the principles of the circular economy. A standout example of this policy is the use of end-of-life tire powder in the production of bitumen for bituminous mixtures, making it the first autonomous community to introduce and consolidate this practice and the largest user nationwide. This innovation not only gives a second life to an industrial byproduct but also provides surfaces with greater durability, thermal resistance, and less susceptibility to cracking and deformation, improving technical performance and reducing medium and long-term maintenance costs. Additionally, aware of the environmental impact of material transportation, the government stipulates in its tenders that mixture manufacturing plants must be located within a maximum distance of 100 kilometers from the site, significantly reducing associated CO₂ emissions from transportation. The commitment to alternative materials also extends to the use of natural additives, such as pumice, a byproduct of olive oil refining that reduces both energy consumption in mixture manufacturing and emissions of smoke and odors during application. These measures materialize in specific projects developed in collaboration with the concessionaire of the Segovian section of the A-601 Motorway. Moreover, test sections with bituminous mixtures incorporating recycled aggregates extracted from the infrastructure itself have been executed. Furthermore, on the A-601, in the eight kilometers closest to Valladolid, the pavement has been renewed with semi-hot bituminous mixture containing 15% recycled asphalt pavement, recovered from flexible pavements that have been milled. These R&D&I initiatives will allow for a long-term evaluation of surface behavior and reinforce the government’s commitment to responsible resource management, reducing dependence on external materials and moving towards a more sustainable road conservation model.