Home / Science / Edmonton Roads: Tires and Ash Pave the Way
Edmonton Roads: Tires and Ash Pave the Way
13 Oct
Summary
- Road uses recycled tires and coal bottom ash to combat frost heave.
- Sensors embedded in the pavement report the road's condition.
- Test road saved 103,123 cubic meters of landfill space.
Researchers in Edmonton, Canada, developed a novel road construction method to combat severe winter conditions, utilizing recycled tires and coal bottom ash. This innovative approach was implemented in 2012 with the construction of the Integrated Road Research Facility (IRRF) test road.
The road connects the Edmonton Waste Management Centre to Anthony Henday Drive, incorporating over 8,000 tonnes of scrap tires transformed into tyre-derived aggregate. It is equipped with more than 250 sensors monitoring geotechnical, environmental, and pavement conditions, transmitting data to the university laboratory. This construction diverted a substantial amount of waste, saving an estimated 103,123 cubic meters of landfill space.
Studies on the road have evaluated its performance in cold weather. Initial findings in 2014 showed that bottom ash insulation reduced frost depth by at least 28%. A later study in 2021 indicated that bottom ash insulation decreased frost depth by 24%, while polystyrene insulation reduced it by 64% compared to a control segment.
