Santa Barbara County pavement recycling project wins award

California’s Santa Barbara County Public Works Department was one of four winners of the 2015 Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Project Awards, which were given out during the 2015 CEAC Annual Spring Conference, March 25-27 in Newport Beach, California. The county was recognized for its Hollister Avenue Cold In-Place Pavement Recycle Project (CIPPR).

The county’s Hollister Avenue CIPPR project attempted to improve 1.2 miles of Hollister Avenue using environmentally friendly construction methods. The project removed the top 1.5 inches of asphalt and recycled 3 inches of the remaining asphalt using the CIPPR strategy.

Santa Barbara County representatives note that the technique saved money by reusing the existing aggregate instead of bringing in gravel from more than 40 miles away. Additionally, to expedite the reopening of the road and to minimize inconvenience to drivers, the project included the placement of a thin layer of oil and sand on the CIPPR pavement layer, which accelerated drying time and acted as a buffer under vehicle wheels.

In accepting the award, Santa Barbara Public Works Director Scott McGolpin said, “The county has been a leader in pavement preservation since 1999, which means selecting the right road at the right time for the right treatment. This award recognizes the county’s continued leadership in this field across California as we have selected the most cost-effective and sustainable technology to treat Hollister.”

Los Angeles County accepted the award as the overall winner of the Outstanding Local Streets and Roads Awards Program, which was recognized for its Willowbrook Community Road Improvement Project. The project reused material from deteriorating roadways and old tires to repave the streets. Through the project, Los Angeles County realized a 68 percent reduction in energy consumption; a 57 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; reduced landfill deposits by 32,000 cubic yards; diverted 18,300 scrap tires from landfills; and saved the county $2.2 million.

The County Engineers Association of California (CEAC) and the League of California Cities Public Works Officers’ Institute hosted the conference. The awards program recognizes projects that serve as best practices and can be replicated by other jurisdictions. The awards also acknowledge California cities and counties that promote sustainability in the local transportation system.