News and updates
Liverpool update
The Liverpool Live Labs 2 project shared an update in January 2026 on the Kiacrete cycleway deployment, writing “After the recent cold and wintery weather in Liverpool, it was great to see the Kiacrete demonstrator is performing as planned at Upper Pitt Street - no residual pooling has been detected at the site”.
Highways UK 2025
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was at Highways UK in October 2025 showcasing Kiacrete and the successful Liverpool cycleway deployment earlier in the year. Dr Alalea Kia shared her thoughts as part of the ‘Innovative materials shaping the future of construction and maintenance’ panel.
Kiacrete – ‘Paving the way’ to reducing flooding and combined sewer overflows
Dr Alalea Kia wrote a guest blog post for Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund in September 2025 on Kiacrete and the Liverpool cycleway deployment.
The Advanced Materials Show 2025
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was at The Advanced Materials Show with the Imperial College London spinout 2D Nano in July 2025, showcasing Kiacrete and the graphene-enhanced Kiacrete slab.
CIHT North West Awards 2025
Liverpool City Council were commended for the ongoing Live Labs 2 project in the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) North West Awards in late June 2025. The Live Labs 2 project, includes the new Kiacrete cycleway, and works towards Liverpool City Council’s vision for “a thriving, net-zero city”.
Great Exhibition Road Festival 2025
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was at the Great Exhibition Road Festival in June 2025. Well over a thousand people crossed the Kiacrete bridge and many more learnt about the new pavement technology for the first time.
Liverpool deployment
The first permanent Kiacrete pavement has opened in the centre of Liverpool, UK in late March 2025. This new cycleway next to Chinatown was delivered as part of the Live Labs 2 project for Liverpool City Council with Colas, A E Yates, Mott MacDonald, the Environmental Protection Group, Attlebridge Concrete and Polypipe.
Imperial Lates: Future Cities
It was a busy night at the final Imperial Lates event of the 2024/25 season, with the Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group showcasing Kiacrete to the public. Hundreds of attendees at the ‘Future Cities’ event heard about and tested Kiacrete for the first time in March 2025.
UK Concrete Show 2025
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was at the NEC in Birmingham, UK with the Imperial College London spinout 2D Nano for the UK Concrete Show, in late February 2025. Dr Alalea Kia delivered an invited Spotlight Session talk on Kiacrete and a new graphene-enhanced Kiacrete slab was showcased, as part of the team’s work with 2D Nano.
TRIG Showcase & Networking event
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was at the 10 year anniversary Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG) Showcase & Networking event in Birmingham, UK in October 2024. Mike Kane MP (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security) and Prof Sarah Sharples (Chief Scientific Advisor for the Department for Transport) tested and walked on Kiacrete. Dr Alalea Kia also shared her experiences as an academic awardee on the TRIG alumni panel.
Royal Academy of Engineering Research Forum
The Resilient Sustainable Infrastructure Group was invited to showcase their research on Kiacrete at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Research Forum in May 2024. The RAEng interviewed Dr Alalea Kia about her experiences as an RAEng Associate Research Fellow.