Vol. 4 No. 1

 Dedicated to encouraging greater usage of high quality, cost effective asphalt pavements containing recycled tire rubber.

Winter, 2000

Texas DOT project wins four awards

An Odessa district Asphalt-Rubber project on a 14-mile section of U.S. 385 in Crane County, Texas has received awards from the RPA as well as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA).

TxDOT presented the project with its Quality Initiative Award and an environmental award.

The 80,000 ton A-R hot-mix project was constructed by Jones Brothers Dirt and Paving Contractors of Odessa. Cox Paving Co. of Blanco, Texas was the Asphalt-Rubber contractor. The work is featured in the RPA video "Road to the Future" and a video on recycling by the TxDOT.

RPA's Highest Quality Award went to the Odessa District of the Texas Department of Transportation in recognition of its role in the design and construction of the 80, 000 ton Asphalt-Rubber project on U. S. 385 in Crane County. Above, RPA president Mark Belshe presents the award to Dan Dalager, area engineer, Odessa Dist TxDOT

(See TxDOT story on page 3)

May workshop features winner

The project will be part of the May 24-25 workshop and tour cosponsored by the RPA, TxDOT, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and the FHWA. Sidney Cox, RPA director, says the project has rekindled strong interest in Asphalt-Rubber in Texas.

The state was a pioneer in A-R chip seals but its use was diminished by reactions against patent disputes and federal mandates. Now that both impediments are gone, Texas is resuming its role as a leader in the technology.

A recent progress report on using scrap tires and crumb rubber in highway construction projects submitted jointly by TxDOT and TNRCC to the state legislature, identifies the increased use of A-R as one of the key components of a four-step program to deal with the state's 20 million annual tire discards.

The annual discards, combined with millions of shreds stockpiled throughout Texas, have been a major concern since the sunset of the Texas Tire Law of 1997.

The report is available on the Internet at
www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/admin/topdoc/sfr.html or www.state.tx...

RPA's Innovative Project Award went to All States Asphalt of Sunderland, MA for the innovative construction of an A-R Stress Absorbing Membrane bicycle path on the bank of the Windsor Locks Canal in Connecticut. No one was available to receive the award at the annual meeting.

Home | Contents & Calendar | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Contacts and Credits