Paving the Way – Phase 2 and HyRAP Streets Project

Location

Various Locations

City or County Responsible for Project

City of Montebello

Category

Roads: Efficient and Sustainable Road Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects.

Author

René Bobadilla, P.E.

Organization

City of Montebello

Address

1600 West Beverly Boulevard, Montebello, CA 90640-3932

Phone

(323) 887-1350

Project Description

MONTEBELLO – BRINGING SUSTAINABLE STREETS TO OUR RESIDENTS

Cities throughout Southern California struggle with aging streets, limited budgets and looming environmental mandates. Montebello recently confronted those challenges with two innovative street projects, repaving nearly 100 streets.

Montebello became the first California city to use the advanced Composite Layering System process, HyRAP® Hot Mix Asphalt (HyRAP®) on an Asphalt-Rubber Aggregate Membrane (ARAM), referred to as HyRAM™. Conventional hot mix asphalt is a combination of virgin aggregate and liquid asphalt (oil), whereas HyRAP® is produced almost entirely using recycled asphalt and petroleum rejuvenators, therefore resulting in a reduction of 100% of virgin aggregate and up to 90% in petroleum products.

The condition of the Montebello streets were poor, with hundreds of lane miles of streets with serious deterioration, water damage, and potholes. The City evaluated its streets and found that even the worst streets requiring full reconstruction, rated as low as a 10 Pavement Condition Index (PCI), were able to be rehabilitated with HyRAM™. Using HyRAM™ saved the City 40% or more on what it would have cost for reconstruction.

California law, as specified under Assembly Bill (AB) 32, AB 398, and Senate Bill 32, collectively referred to as The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires emissions return to 1990 levels by 2020 and reach 40 percent below that marker by 2030. The transportation industry is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (“GHGs”). Use of HyRAM™ will help achieve these goals.

HyRAP® is produced almost entirely using recycled asphalt materials, currently being landfilled or left in piles and oftentimes stored in local neighborhoods. Significant reductions in pollution generated by transportation of the raw and finished materials are also achieved through use of HyRAM™, contributing to reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

Paving streets with HyRAM™ not only reduces VMT and an agency’s carbon footprint by eliminating the need to mine and transport virgin aggregate, but it also utilizes scrap tires in the process. In addition to the environmental benefits of HyRAM™, residents receive the benefit of fewer neighborhood impacts during the repaving process. The time a street is closed for repairs drops from weeks to days when using HyRAM™. Residents also reap the long-term benefits of HyRAM™ which lasts longer than conventional hot mix asphalt, resulting in less frequent street-closures needed to maintain and repair streets.

Montebello has more streets to rehabilitate and is working to identify funding for more HyRAM™ projects. Any other cities that are looking for innovative and environmentally sound ways to rehabilitate streets should consider HyRAM™.