Boston Logan Using Special Asphalt at Runway

Boston Logan International Airport’s says it will be the first airport in the country to use environmentally friendly asphalt to repave a runway. The project is expected to be substantially complete by the end of this September.

The $12.5 million project which received federal stimulus funding was started in July and this is the last scheduled weekend – weather permitting -- for milling and repaving work. The 7,000 foot long runway has been closed for seven weekends to mill and repave the surface which is 150 feet wide.

The runway is the first in the country to be completely repaved with a "warm mix’’ asphalt which is heated to between 250 and 275 degrees, 75 to 50 degrees less than traditional "hot mix" asphalt, which should save the airport a significant amount of diesel fuel and reduce energy usage. Additionally, the new "green" asphalt will use up to 20 percent recycled asphalt in the production of new asphalt.

"Warm mix uses 20 percent less energy to fabricate, produces 20 percent fewer greenhouse emissions, and allows us to use more recycled asphalt pavement in the final product,’’ said Thomas Kinton Jr., Massport CEO & executive director."