Ann Arbor – Rubberized asphalt is a first for Ann Arbor.
On Saturday, road crews tested out the technology along a mile stretch of road at Oakbrook Drive and Northbrook Place.
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“My hope is that it will last a lot longer and we can use this technology moving forward,” said city engineer Nick Hutchinson.
If this road holds up , you could see more rubberized asphalt across Ann Arbor.
While it is pricier, experts say rubberized asphalt offers some serious advantages.
“We have pavement’s down in the UP and we’ve had them down in the state for 15 years. They’re behaving well in cold climates and heavy trafficked roads,” said the president of Asphalt Plus Dr. Redmond Clark.
The city is collaborating with Michigan Technological University, finding ways to reduce its environmental footprint.
Ann Arbor generates more than 70,000 scrap tires every year and almost half are burned or disposed.
This option could be a win-win.
“The road might last longer and resist cracking,” Hutchinson said.
A $61,000 dollar grant is covering the additional costs of placing rubberized asphalt.
What remains to be seen, is if the additional money spent will pay off for drivers.
“This sort of technology is going to give you the ability to resist potholes in the future,” Clark said.