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FDR Makes Economic and Environmental Sense for City of Dallas |
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One of the most cost-effective, durable and sustainable methods the Department of Street Services has embraced, is the use of full-depth reclamation (FDR) with cement for its street restoration program. “This process rebuilds worn-out asphalt pavements by recycling the existing roadway. The old asphalt and base materials are pulverized, mixed with cement and water, and compacted to produce a strong, durable base for either an asphalt or concrete surface,” said Dan Richwine of TXI, a leading supplier of building materials such as cement and concrete. “By using the old asphalt and base material for the new road, there is no need to haul in aggregate or haul out old material for disposal, reducing the amount of fuel consumed and reducing fuel emissions in the area.” Dallas commuters and residents also benefit from full-depth reclamation. “We are able to get our streets back to the motoring public faster than we’ve done in the past,” stated Gilbert Aguilar, Assistant Director for the City of Dallas, Department of Streets Services. Street rehabilitation involves the repair of failed sections of asphalt streets followed by an under seal and 2” asphalt overlay. Asphalt and base material removed from failed sections of these streets are taken to the landfill. However, 100% of the material used for the new replacement base is a blend of recycled asphalt mixed with base material, cement and water. Partial reconstruction involves the removal and repair of failed sections of concrete streets. In this program, 100% of the concrete removed from these failed sections is taken to a concrete recycling plant. Through these three programs the City of Dallas estimates it is recycling an average of 80% of its existing street materials, thereby reducing road repair debris in landfills — a major goal of the City. The Department of Street Services, which spearheads the Sustainable Rehabilitation, Restoration and Partial Reconstruction of Dallas Streets project, is a winner of the 2008 PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards. These awards honor public officials who utilize cement or cement-based products to achieve sustainable benefits. “I was impressed by the variety of ways in which the Department of Street Services’ street rehabilitation and restoration plan helps Dallas in meeting its goal of becoming a ‘greener’ city,” said Richwine. “This is certainly a major milestone in proving that being sustainable is not only obtainable, it makes good economic sense, too.”
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Since 2004, the City of Dallas has been committed to a sustainability policy to make it a “greener,” more environmentally friendly city. Among the many environmental issues it faced were waste management and, in particular, the disposal of materials resulting from street repairs. In keeping with the City of Dallas Environmental Policy, the Department of Street Services has established innovative programs to reuse, reclaim and recycle materials used in its street restoration, rehabilitation and partial reconstruction programs. 