Ga. DOT amends road construction specs to allow rubberized asphalt

ERJ staff report (TB)

ATLANTA (March 28, 2012) - The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has amended the state's road construction specifications to allow recycled tire rubber as an alternative to oil-based polymers in asphalt, according to a joint press release from the Georgia House of Representatives and Liberty Tire Recycling L.L.C.

Changing road specs to allow the use of rubberized asphalt in the state was a pet project of Rep. Randy Nix, R-69th District, according to the release. Rep. Nix fought successfully last year for renewal of Georgia's $1-per-tire scrap tire fee, then consulted with GDOT and the Georgia House and Senate Transportation Committees about approving the use of rubberized asphalt in-state to solve the state's scrap tire problem.

Rep. Nix sought the expertise of Liberty Tire, Lehigh Technologies and Blacklidge Emulsions-all companies either with headquarters or with significant operations in Georgia-in testing rubberized asphalt on Georgia roads.

“With new test data from the national organizations, GDOT accelerated its approval of the process and will have recycled tire rubber specs available for asphalt road jobs bid in April 2012,” the release said.

Rep. Nix praised the GDOT and the committees for helping him keep his promise to find a solution to the state's scrap tire problem.

“Tires are manufactured in large quantities and with great durability,” he said. “By reclaiming tire rubber for asphalt roads, we can repurpose that durability and provide a beneficial outlet for this problematic waste material.”

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)