Anniston, AL – The McClellan Development Authority (MDA) is set to revolutionize Lake Yahou Park’s drives and parking lot, thanks to a groundbreaking $653,424.12 grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The grant, earmarked for paving using an asphalt mixture modified with recycled tire rubber, represents a forward-thinking approach to enhance the park’s infrastructure while contributing to environmental sustainability.
Julie Moss, MDA Executive Director, expressed her excitement about being among the first in Alabama to receive the grant for rubber-modified asphalt. “The MDA is always looking for ways to improve Lake Yahou Park, and this grant will make a huge impact in the park’s vehicle accessibility. We’re looking forward to working with Wiregrass Construction this spring and extend many thanks to ADEM for making this opportunity possible.”
The paving project, contracted to Wiregrass Construction Company, Inc., is not just an ordinary resurfacing effort. It incorporates an innovative asphalt technology modified with recycled tire rubber derived from tire scraps. This environmentally conscious approach aligns with the MDA’s commitment to sustainable development.
The unique asphalt blend offers a myriad of benefits for Lake Yahou Park visitors. The rubber-modified asphalt not only reduces environmental impact but also promises reduced tire wear and a quieter, safer driving experience due to improved traction. In terms of durability, the rubber-modified asphalt surpasses traditional counterparts, exhibiting greater resistance to potholes and cracking.
Brandon Owens, Vice President of Operations at Wiregrass, emphasized the distinctive construction approach for this project. “What makes this project unique is our construction approach of using two different types of asphalt on the road. One side will be paved with Superpave asphalt, while the other side will be paved with Ground Tire Rubber asphalt.”
This approach ensures equal traffic distribution on the main drive in and out of Lake Yahou Park, facilitating an accurate comparison between the two surfaces. The National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) at Auburn University will conduct a six-year evaluation, assessing the performance and durability of the innovative rubber-modified asphalt.
Carolina Rodezno, Associate Research Professor from NCAT, highlighted the significance of projects like this, stating, “Projects like this [at McClellan] will allow the asphalt industry to gain experience with construction and performance to add to our knowledge base with rubber-modified asphalt and support future implementation efforts.”
Wiregrass Construction is committed to the initiative’s positive impact, emphasizing the importance of reusing waste materials to create a more sustainable infrastructure. The project officially commenced on February 26, 2024. While the full paving process is expected to take approximately four weeks, dependent on weather conditions, advanced notice of closures will be communicated through the MDA’s Facebook page. As Lake Yahou Park undergoes this transformation, it sets an inspiring example for environmentally conscious and innovative infrastructure development.
