Tokyo Bus Lanes

Buses are a really big deal in Tokyo, with bus routes taking you almost anywhere that you need to go in the city. There are local and highway buses, all running on a series of well mapped out bus lanes that need to be resilient and clearly marked out to be able to cater for the amount of traffic they get on a daily basis.

That’s where Cloburn came in; we were asked to supply the red asphalt for this important public transport system, and we were delighted to be able to help. The planners in charge of the project came to Cloburn for their aggregate because of our reputation for being able to supply long-lasting and durable materials that were absolutely ideal for such a prestigious project.

Our famous red granite enjoys an excellent international reputation after being used for several high profile projects where coloured asphalt has been the material of choice. In addition to the Tokyo bus lanes, it has also been used very successfully on Holland’s famous cycle paths and for walkways in America.

One of the reasons that this aggregate is so popular, apart from the fact that it looks fantastic, is that it can offer a smooth, totally sealed surface which repels water and inclement weather, and also deters weeds. The asphalt lasts for a long time and is a favourite with planners who are looking for an attractive finish that won’t fade – unlike some artificially treated coloured asphalts, our red asphalt is naturally pigmented so the vibrant red shade intensifies rather than fading over time. Also, as some other cities have found to their cost, simply painting an existing concrete surface such as a bus lane in red may be cheaper at first, but most painted concrete surfaces tend to fade in a very short period, meaning that not only does the job have to be done again, but the roads will be held up and road users inconvenienced as the repainting is carried out.

As the Japanese bus lanes are proving already, finding the right material for the job really does pay dividends. The bus lanes look great, and they are set to carry on doing their job while still looking like they’ve only just been laid for many years to come.