Rubber Meets the Road: Atlanta sees early success with rubber-modified asphalt; Material not being used on LI
About a year ago, Atlanta installed the material on Ellis Street, a busy corridor in the city's downtown tourism district. The project marked the city's first use of rubber-modified asphalt.
As Long Island continues to search for ways to improve road durability and reduce potholes, some communities elsewhere in the country are already putting a promising pavement technology to the test.
One of them is Atlanta, where city officials say a road surface made with recycled tires is delivering encouraging results after its first year in service.
The material, known as rubber-modified asphalt, combines traditional asphalt with recycled tire rubber. Manufacturers say the technology can extend pavement life, reduce road noise and improve resistance to wear and tear.
About a year ago, Atlanta installed the material on Ellis Street, a busy corridor in the city's downtown tourism district. The project marked the city's first use of rubber-modified asphalt.
"The state of Georgia has invested in this product, and it's something we recognize our communities could take advantage of," said Solomon Caviness, Atlanta Department of Transportation commissioner.
According to Caviness, the benefits have extended beyond durability. City officials say the pavement has helped reduce roadway noise, limited deterioration and even lessened the amount of heat radiating from city streets during the hot summer months.
"The overall benefits we get relative to impacts to the community, the cooling effects it has to our downtown center, but also as the technology proliferates, we're looking to install it in many parts throughout the city," Caviness said.
Supporters of the technology acknowledge that rubber-modified asphalt can cost more upfront than conventional pavement. However, they argue that the added expense is offset by a longer lifespan and reduced maintenance needs.
"In percentage terms, it's easily around 40% longer," Kirton said. "But what that means for us is a typical road is going to last three to five years longer than it would if it didn't have rubber as a modifier in it," said Stratton Kirton, of Liberty Tire Recycling.
That extended lifespan could ultimately save taxpayers money by reducing the frequency of major paving projects, proponents say.
So far, Atlanta officials believe it's money well spent.
"We feel the investment is worth the life cycle of the investment," Caviness said. "We've seen that it's held up beautifully. We want to broaden the benefits of this technology throughout other communities and other corridors in the city."
While Atlanta is exploring additional uses for the pavement, no plans have been announced to install rubber-modified asphalt on Long Island.
As a result, local drivers will have to wait to see whether the material could help address some of the region's most persistent roadway problems, including the potholes and pavement deterioration that accompany heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions.
For now, the performance of Atlanta's pilot project offers a glimpse of what could be possible if Long Island ever decides to give the technology a try.
