Ontario Construction News staff writer
Durham Region will test the performance of recycled materials in road construction on a section of Regional Road 18 in Clarington.
A 3.6 kilometre stretch of the roadway will be reconstructed as part of a pilot project and results will be compared to conventional construction methods.
Split into two phases, this project reconstructed the north half of this road segment (Phase 1) using conventional techniques, while the southern half (Phase 2) will pilot the use of recycled material.
To prepare for the project, the region earmarked Federal Gas Tax funding in 2019 for transformative capital projects, creating a unique opportunity for upgrading the road as an initiative using Regional Waste materials.
An estimated six tonnes of mixed plastic and 400 tonnes of recycled glass from Durham Region’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) are estimated to be used for the proposed second phase of this project. Additionally, 4.5 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres—made from recycled plastic would also be used in this second phase.
“We are proud to be exploring the use of recycled materials in our road reconstruction projects. This pilot will help define the potential for sustainable practices and determine the durability of roads that incorporate recycled materials. The opportunity to recycle waste in road construction is just one of the many ways Durham Region is leading the way in waste management,” said Susan Siopis, commissioner of works.
Phase 1, completed in the fall of 2021, used conventional reconstruction methods and materials. Construction for Phase 2 is planned for spring and summer of 2022, pending council approval. Upon approval, this second phase will focus on the southerly section of the road and will include recycled waste materials for a beneficial new use. Recycled glass will be incorporated into the granular base and recycled plastics will be incorporated in the new asphalt.
This pilot project aligns with the region’s Long-term Waste Management Plan’s guiding principles to apply innovative approaches to regional waste streams to manage them as resources in a circular economy.
In the future, Durham could incorporate an estimated 300 tonnes of mixed plastic, 240 tonnes of PET plastic and all recycled glass processed at Durham Region’s Material Recovery Facility through the region’s annual road program.
This would reduce the amount of waste stored in regional facilities and decrease the amount of virgin material that is mined and trucked for road construction, such as aggregate materials. The use of plastics also has the potential to significantly increase the strength, durability and the overall lifecycle of the pavement structure in our road network.
“Splitting the road segment in two phases will help clearly assess and evaluate the difference in performance between using conventional methods and recycled materials. We look forward to advancing this pilot project and contributing to a circular economy,” Ramesh Jagannathan, director of transportation and field services, said in a statement.