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As one of her final acts in office, Arizona Governor
Jane Dee Hull,
announced a plan to add Asphalt-Rubber to a majority of the Phoenix
Metropolitan Freeways.
At a December 18, press conference the Governor and
ADOT Director, Victor Mendez, were joined by the Mayors of most
of the Valley cities, who had been lobbying ADOT for the Asphalt-Rubber
surfacing on other metro freeways after the favorable public
response to the resurfacing of the US 60 freeway in the fall
of 2002.
The plan, developed by ADOT, the Maricopa Association of Governments
(MAG) and local cities will cover 115 additional miles of Valley
regional free-way in a $34,000,000 project that will take three
years to complete.
"This is a big breakthrough in our
efforts to enhance the quality of life in neighborhoods
close to freeways and at the same time keep millions of tires
out of landfills," said Governor
Hull. The Chair of the MAG Regional Council, Queen Creek
Mayor Wendy Feldman-Kerr, said "We support this change to
the freeway program because it is the
right thing to do, the cities and state have been listening to
residents who live near the Freeways."
ADOT, has over 3,000 miles of the state's 7,400
mile system, paved with Asphalt-Rubber. Initial use of the material
was in rural areas because of it's durability and extended lifespan.
According to agency personnel, approximately 75% of ADOT's overlays
contain rubber. However, recent use of the AR Open Graded Friction
course on sections of the I-17, US 60 and Loop 101, reduced noise
to the extent, it caught the attention of the motorists and freeway
neighbors, leading to a public demand, including news editorials
and radio talk shows, for the use of the one inch overlay on
all concrete pavements. Despite the lack of Federal recognition
of the product as a noise mitigation measure, ADOT, MAG and the
cities made the decision to move ahead with the massive resurfacing
project.
"This is a major milestone for our
citizens," said ADOT Director VictorMendez. "We've
been looking for ways to respond to what many of our customers
have been asking for. All the meetings
with the citizens and mayors are paying off."
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