Asphalt is the material of choice for much of the roadways in the United States, but as everyone that’s ever driven in a car knows, the material is prone to cracking and potholing, creating a considerable maintenance problem. A new process being tested in California is showing promising results by using cold in-place asphalt and recycled plastic bottles.
A 1,000 foot long, 3 lane highway segment on Highway 162 in Oroville, California is actively being repaved with the combination of recycled materials, making it the first state highway section to use 100% recycled material.
The process will involve milling the top 3 inches of pavement and then mixing those millings with a liquid plastic polymer binder, as opposed to the traditional method of hot-mix asphalt which is brought in from an area asphalt plant. For every 1-mile segment of pavement, the polymer will recycle 150,000 plastic bottles.
courtesy of Caltrans
Developed by TechniSoil Industrial in Redding, California, the process has shown promising results in previous tests. According to the press release from Caltrans, the roadway with recycled products have shown to have a lifespan of two to three times longer than traditional methods.
Sean Weaver, the president of TechniSoil Industrial, told Action News Now that the method is eliminating the need for 42 truckloads of hauled off millings and an additional 42 truckloads of new asphalt.
"California has set ambitious goals for recycling and other environmental priorities, and meeting them requires innovative and cost-effective solutions," said Senator Ben Hueso (D-40), who has advocated for Caltrans to test this material, in a press release. "Using waste plastic that was otherwise destined for a landfill will not only reduce the cost of road repair and construction, but also increase the strength and durability of our roads. As a leader on environmental justice issues, California is uniquely positioned to transform the transportation industry once again by using this new technology that could revolutionize the way we look at recycled plastic."
Total project costs for the highway segment is expected to be $3.2 million and is being carried out by Yuba Construction, the prime contractor.
Full story: Caltrans Repaves Roadway with Recycled Plastic Bottles | Caltrans
Shane is the creator of Construction Junkie and an active construction project manager. In his career, he has managed interior remodel projects, site development, construction safety, governmental project compliance, and facility maintenance. He has a strong passion for construction technology and safety, as well as sharing the knowledge or insights he has gained throughout his career.