Repaving Tests New Road Materials

The University of California Pavement Research Center, or UCPRC, in collaboration with CalRecycle and Caltrans, repaved 1.1 miles of road on campus last week with innovative pavement materials made from end-of-life tires.

The work, near the University Airport and Putah Creek Reserve, could provide a way to enhance the sustainability and performance of California’s roads. It is the first small pilot scale evaluation of new types of asphalt mixes that include up to 10% recycled tire rubber and 25% reclaimed asphalt pavement, said Professor John Harvey, director of the UCPRC. The work is being led by Angel Mateos, project manager at the UC Berkeley UCPRC, with research staff from Berkeley and UC Davis.

By testing these materials, UCPRC aims to develop longer-lasting, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly road surfaces for both local governments and Caltrans projects.

Key highlights of the project:

• Cold Recycling Technology: Repurposes existing road materials, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Recycled Tire Asphalt Mixes: Incorporates waste tires to enhance durability and sustainability.
• Life-Cycle Assessment Tools: Evaluates environmental impacts of pavement designs.

Campus and industry collaboration

This project is made possible by a unique partnership with UC Davis Design and Construction Management’s Campus Planning unit, support from CalRecycle, and industry in-kind donations from Teichert Materials and Teichert Construction and rubberized products suppliers CRM, Wright Asphalt, Polyco and Neotech Asphalt.

“This project is a great example of partnership between CalRecycle, Caltrans, industry, UCPRC and UC Davis campus to move research at a faster pace to implementation while improving campus infrastructure,” Harvey said.

By utilizing the campus as a living laboratory, UC Davis is enabling real-world research that advances sustainability and innovation in infrastructure development.

“Our collaboration with the Pavement Research Center exemplifies how the university infrastructure can benefit while serving as a resource for innovative research,” said Lucas Griffith, campus planning executive director. “These efforts align with UC Davis’ commitment to sustainability and provide valuable insights that benefit the campus and the entire state.”