Raze the Roof!

In the November/December issue of Airport Improvement magazine theres an article about the unique sustainable pavement program being implemented on the construction of the Epstein designed Runway 10R-28L at OHare International Airport. This piece describes how asphalt shingles from over 6,000 roofs that would have normally been discarded into landfills are being recycled and turned into the pavement sub-layers for Runway 10R-28L as well as Taxiways K & L (also designed by Epstein). The use of old roof shingles makes OHare the first US airport to be certified by the FAA to use recycled roof shingles in its asphalt mix.

Initially OHare was not using recycled asphalt shingles in its pavement mix but through collaboration with engineers like Epstein, contractors and the University of Illinois this sustainable pavement recipe was tested on OHares various roadways, shoulders and aprons and eventually approved by the FAA for use in pavement construction.

This recycled product is known as a warm-mx asphalt because it is produced and applied at lower temperatures and therefore requires less fuel and produces lower plant emissions than traditional hot-mix products.

The use of this recycled asphalt reduces the need for liquid asphalt by 2 to 3% and OHare officials estimate that it will save $1.65 per ton on the construction of Runway 10R-28L and Taxiways K & L, saving $665,000!

To read the entire article on this very interesting sustainable program at OHare visit - http://digital.airportimprovement.com/Vizion5/viewer.aspx?issueID=14&pageID=54