Atlanta Tests Recycled Rubber Asphalt In Preparation For World Cup

Atlanta is moving quickly to get its streets ready for next summer’s FIFA World Cup, and a new pilot project downtown is testing a rubber-modified asphalt mix

The Atlanta Transportation Commission has partnered with the University of Georgia, Liberty Tire Recycling, and clean infrastructure nonprofit The Ray to launch its first rubber-modified asphalt project.

The material, made from finely ground recycled tires, is being used on a one-third-mile stretch of Ellis Street, one of eight roads the city is resurfacing and repairing.

The ground tire rubber for the project was supplied by Liberty Tire Recycling, which operates two tire recycling plants in Georgia,

City officials say the upgraded surface could help shape how Atlanta paves its roads in the future. The resurfacing project is using about 500 tons of the rubber-modified asphalt mix, about 600 end-of-life tires.

Supporters of the material say it is designed to last longer, reduce noise, lower maintenance costs and help cool the city during hot summer nights.

‘Rubber-modified asphalt was first developed nearly 50 years ago,” Allie Kelly, Executive Director of The Ray, said. “It’s well-proven to extend pavement life and reduce maintenance.”

Atlanta Transportation Commissioner Solomon Caviness said the timing could not be better.

“The time is just right for all the improvements you’re seeing around the city. The World Cup is an exciting opportunity for the city to grow and welcome the world,” Caviness said.

“The goal is to improve safety and the visitor experience while supporting residents.

City officials plan to continue to collect data from the Ellis Street project that will help determine whether rubber-modified asphalt should be used more widely across Atlanta in the years ahead.

Source: Tyler Fingert, Atlanta FOX 5

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