A mixture of material for providing at least a portion of a travelled surface. The mixture includes an aggregate with a plurality of particles. The mixture also includes a hydrocolloidal agent adapted to swell upon exposure to water to form a resilient and flexible binder, for substantially binding the particles of the aggregate together. The aggregate and the hydrocolloidal agent have an initial pH. The mixture also includes an agent for elevating the initial pH to a predetermined pH, and a hydrophilic agent.