Asphalt Recyling Process Gaining Popularity
Date Posted: August 14, 2014
Posted In: Ideas, News, Organizations,
From STLToday: EDWARDSVILLE • Recycling old asphalt from roads and parking lots is an old idea that is gaining new traction.
Interest is growing in a recycling process that uses broken-up old asphalt as a base for new asphalt roads and lots. The process is called full-depth reclamation, and it’s been around for decades.
Now, the process is growing in popularity among businesses, road districts and transportation departments because it usually saves costs over hauling away the old asphalt that is being replaced. And some officials are becoming convinced that the base created by using old asphalt is solid and durable.
Bob Vanzo, director of administrative services for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, said the university has been told by contractors that its newly rebuilt and resurfaced parking lots should last about 20 years. The old lots that were rebuilt lasted 18 years, he said.
Eight parking lots at SIUE were rebuilt this summer with fresh asphalt over a full-depth reclamation project that reused the old asphalt as a base.