Nottingham's City Express Transit Tram will commence public service in November 2003. Several of the new tram lines have to be placed in close proximity to existing buildings. In order to prevent the heavy road trains vibrating these structures the tram track foundations will be cast onto a floating slab structure in order that the imposed dynamic loadings are absorbed before they can cause damage to the surrounding areas. However this anticipated movement, will be transmitted vertically upwards to the new Tarmac road surfacing, which is not able to flex sufficiently to accommodate this rapid movement. Therefore rapid deteriation of the surfacing would follow.