Ann Arbor Tests Rubberized Asphalt to Enhance Infrastructure Performance and Improve Environmental Outcomes
The City of Ann Arbor, in collaboration with Michigan Technological University, is testing rubberized asphalt in two street applications this spring as part of its ongoing commitment to infrastructure improvement and sustainability. Through this demonstration, the City will use a special asphalt made with recycled tires, an application that has the potential to extend asphalt life, significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the user experience on Ann Arbor roads.
“The City is delighted to collaborate with Michigan Technological University to demonstrate how we can continually improve our infrastructure and advance our sustainability goals. Through this pilot, we have the opportunity to capture real world information about how rubberized asphalt works in practice while also working towards a more circular economy by keeping tires out of the landfill,” says Nick Hutchinson, City of Ann Arbor Engineer.
Through this pilot, the City of Ann Arbor will collaborate with Michigan Technological University to implement rubberized asphalt paving on W. Oakbrook (from Main to Sumark) and on Northbrook Place (from Eisenhower to W. Oakbrook). The plan is to pave Saturday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st. Funding for this project is, in part, provided from a grant secured through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy via their Scrap Tire Market Development Program. Additional rubberized asphalt construction is anticipated in the city next year to further fulfill the project contract and expand the use of sustainable pavement technologies. As part of the project, the team will compare the performance of rubberized asphalt resurfacing with that of conventional asphalt. In total, approximately 9,300 tons of asphalt mixtures will be placed, including about 3,730 tons of rubberized asphalt mixture, which is equivalent to recycling approximately 2,000 passenger tires.
In addition to these environmental and user benefits, this modified rubberized asphalt produces streets with less road noise, and cars and trucks have better wet weather traction (less accidents). Lower road noise is a product of a smoother pavement, which is another benefit of tire rubber modification. Smoother roads also mean improved vehicle fuel economy and reduced generation of tire microplastics. Modification of asphalt pavements with tire rubber will extend road life, typically by 30% or more. This means substantial savings in future road maintenance costs and reduced future construction events. Finally, when it is time to remove and replace those asphalt pavements, the rubber in the asphalt can be re-used in the new pavement, further increasing the circularity of the tire rubber in the asphalt mix. Ann Arbor residents generate more than 70,000 scrap tires each year, and almost half of those tires are burned in cement kilns or disposed of in landfills. If we incorporate some of those tires in our roads, we improve both our infrastructure and our environmental quality.
The City of Ann Arbor will be the lead during project implementation, including coordination with contractors and stakeholders, assistance with data collection at asphalt plants and construction sites, and facilitation of effective communication throughout the project.
“Michigan Technological University is delighted to collaborate with Ann Arbor to test rubberized asphalt on our streets. Through this project, we have the opportunity to demonstrably improve the user experience while also making significant strides towards reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with street surfacing,” said Dr. Zhanping You, the Principal Investigator from Michigan Technological University. “We believe this project will provide a strong example of how recycled tire rubber can be effectively used in road construction municipalities to improve durability and sustainability at the same time.”
This part is a piece of Ann Arbor’s ongoing commitment to equitably addressing the climate crisis, known as A2ZERO. Those interested in learning more about A2ZERO and its wide-reaching impact can learn more at a2zero.org.
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Media Contact:
Dr. Missy Stults, Director of the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations, mstults@a2gov.org