Politics & Government
City Turning Old Tires into Pavement
The City of Carlsbad is taking advantage of a state program that puts old, worn-out tires back on the roads—not as wheels, but as pavement on neighborhood streets.
Jon Schauble, a Carlsbad project engineer, said the city has received a $130,000 grant from CalRecycle that will divert approximately 17,000 tires from landfills and use them as part of a new surface for streets in southeast Carlsbad.
CalRecycle reports that more than 40 million tires are destined for state landfills every year, and 30 million tires were recycled in paving and other projects in 2009, reducing waste and prolonging the life of local landfills.
“The CalRecycle program helps the environment by promoting the use of waste tires in pavement material,” Schauble said. “The program has an added benefit because the rubber from the tires makes a better paving material than conventional concrete asphalt. It’s more flexible and lasts longer.”
Starting in November, work crews will resurface Levante Street, Camino de los Coches, Calle Timiteo and a portion of El Camino Real, using the old tires as part of the paving mix. The project will last approximately two months.
The resurfacing project is part of the city’s annual pavement management program, which evaluates the condition of city streets and designates which ones are due for new pavement based on their age and condition. Resurfacing prolongs the life of city streets by preventing oxidation, weathering and cracking.
“The City of Carlsbad takes pride in providing high-quality service, and maintaining our streets is part of that commitment,” Schauble said.
An outside firm inspected the city’s 333 miles of streets last year and reported that they were in good to very good condition, scoring 80 on a scale from 0 to 100. This high rating is a reflection of the regular and ongoing maintenance that Carlsbad performs each year.
Regular maintenance allows the city to provide high-quality roadways at a significant savings to the community. According to the City of Carlsbad Pavement Analysis Report prepared by IMS Infrastructure Management Services, it can cost taxpayers a minimum of eight times as much to keep roads in top condition if the city deferred maintenance. The paving project will cost approximately $1.8 million and will be paid by a combination of sources, including the CalRecycle grant, local Transnet taxes, fees and California Proposition 1B funds. ATP General Engineering Contractors is the project contractor. The city’s construction management and inspections staff will direct the project.
Traffic may be congested and roads may be reduced to one lane in each direction during the project. Work hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted in the construction areas.
City staff encourages motorists to use caution in construction zones and take alternate routes if possible.
Press release by the
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