CO₂ Emissions During Road Renovation Projects; The Case of a Residential Road in the Netherlands

The construction industry significantly impacts the natural environment through emissions, with roads contributing twice—during construction and use. This chapter delves into the often-overlooked emissions from transport during road renovation projects, using a residential road in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, as a case study. The research, part of the European Horizon 2020 project CityLoops, focuses on material transport and associated CO2 emissions, aiming to raise awareness and provide recommendations for improvement. A key tool developed is a transport calculator adapted for the Dutch context, which considers local lorry types, travel distances, and emission factors. The study reveals that a modest road renovation project can generate nearly 6 tonnes of CO2 emissions from transport alone, with over 35% attributed to empty or lightly loaded vehicles. The chapter discusses the challenges and potential improvements in data collection and emission measurement, advocating for the reuse of materials on-site and efficient transport logistics. It concludes with recommendations for future research and practical steps to reduce CO2 emissions in road construction projects.