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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Beginning Wednesday, July 15, a Pikes Peak Rural Transportation (PPRTA) contractor will continue work that began in 2008 to pave 26 lane miles with Terminal Blend Tire Rubber Asphalt (TBTRA) on north Academy Blvd. and Circle Drive. 

Phase One was completed in 2008 with the placement of a layer of traditional dense-graded pavement.  Phase Two, which will be done by Lafarge West Inc., includes an application of a top layer of permeable TBTRA.  Phase Wwo was postponed until this year due to product shortages in the oil industry in 2008. 

Crews will lay an additional 1 - 1¼ inch layer of tire rubber asphalt over the recently paved projects on Academy Blvd. from just north of SH83/Kelly Johnson Blvd. to Shrider Road and on Circle Drive from Janitell Road to Airport Road.  T

he tire rubber asphalt uses liquid asphalt combined with 15 percent melted tire rubber and 3/8-inch or ½-inch aggregate to create a permeable road surface.

During the past four years, the PPRTA has laid test sections of Terminal Blend Tire Rubber Asphalt (TBTRA) on sections of Union Blvd., Chelton Road, Wooten Road, and Briargate Pkwy. (eastbound) using various combinations of aggregate size and surface conditions. 

So far, using tire rubber asphalt in this way has been more expensive than traditional asphalt, yet it has shown significant initial safety and noise reduction benefits, and is anticipated to pay for itself by extending the life of the roads where it has been placed. 

The added layer of TBTRA allows water to drain through the pavement, reducing accidents during storms.  It also lowers noise levels, improves ride quality and adds durability.

Tentative Paving Schedule (weather dependent):

July 15:         Edge milling to begin on North Academy Boulevard (1 to 2 days)

July 17:         Edge milling to begin on Circle Drive

July 21:        Paving to start on N Academy Blvd with TBTRA, followed by Circle Drive

The total paving time on the two streets will be two to three weeks.

Information provided by City of Colorado Springs.