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| Doing Good for the Environment Means Doing Good for the Bottom Line | |
With an elevation change of almost 400 feet from the lowest point to highest point within the town’s road system and harsh New England winters wreaking havoc on roadways, Director of Public Works, Kurtis J. Grassett knows all too well the challenges of keeping these roads safe and in good repair while working within limited resources. Antrim Road, in particular, posed a problem. A 2,000-foot section of the road has seen three 100-year floods in a three-year time frame — 2005, 2006 and 2007. This road also has a serious groundwater problem, which has damaged the road base and complicated the rebuilding process. “The challenge of limited resources and an abundance of springtime floods had the town of Hancock looking for rebuilding techniques that were long-lasting and cost effective. Kurt Grassett evaluated many alternatives to rebuilding this road and selected full-depth reclamation (FDR) with cement because it was the most cost-effective and reliable approach,” said Heather Steffek of the Road Recycling Council - New England Region. Rebuilding Antrim Road using FDR with cement saved the town about $100,000 in 2006. Hancock taxpayers saw further financial and environmental benefits because the existing base and pavement materials, already paid for by the town in previous years, were recycled into the new stabilized base. This environmentally friendly process significantly reduced fuel consumption by reducing the need to ship in new materials. It also eliminated the need to dispose of the old pavement, saving precious landfill space. The 2007 flood hit Antrim Road in April while there was still snow on the ground. The runoff was caught between the edge of the pavement and the snow bank, resulting in severe erosion. The velocity of the water dug a channel about eight-inches deep and one-foot wide down the edge of the road. “Without the cement-stabilized base, I know I would have lost the pavement and roadway. It acted as a barrier to the erosion that was occurring on the shoulder,” said Grassett. Kurtis J.Grassett is a recipient of the 2008 PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards. These awards honor public officials who utilize cement or cement-based products to achieve sustainable benefits. The use of FDR with cement in the rebuilding of failed asphalt pavements and poorly performing pavement provides the town of Hancock with unmatched environmental and economic benefits. “Kurt Grassett should be recognized not only for his innovation, but for his stewardship of the environmental and financial resources of the townspeople he serves,” said Steffek.
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Much of the recognition for upgrading infrastructure in a sustainable and environmentally responsible fashion often goes to larger cities. However, the success of innovative road rebuilding techniques in the town of Hancock, N.H. — population 1,823 — demonstrates that even the smallest of towns can save time, money and resources while minimizing their impact on the environment.