More than 7,000 tonnes of rubber latex worth 358.6 million baht have been used for road construction and repair projects under the Department of Rural Roads this year.
Department chief Pisak Jitviriyavasin said on Tuesday that findings of research conducted by the department showed that a 5% concentration of latex rubber in the asphalt mixture for road construction and repair projects was most suitable. Since 2013, the department has used a total of 22,659 tonnes of raw latex, worth 1,132.96 million baht, for its road construction projects, Thai media reported.
This year alone, the department has used 7,712 tonnes of raw latex, worth 358.61 million baht, for 557 road construction and repair projects nationwide, said Mr Pisak.
Latex rubber helps improve the durability of roads, he continued, helping them withstand heavier traffic than ordinary asphalt roads. This results in lower road maintenance costs. On top of this, he added, it assists rubber farmers facing falling rubber prices, and helps stabilise domestic rubber prices.
In the 2017 fiscal year, the department plans to use 7,530 tonnes of raw latex for its road projects in line with the government’s policy to help rubber farmers, said the department chief.