Plastic Roads Is Just One Idea Utah Is Looking At To Improve Asphalt

Some parts of Utah always seem to be under construction. I’m talking about the stretches of road lined with orange cones. Turns out there are new ideas that are bringing new innovations to road construction. 

Using Old Roads to Make New Ones 

When mixing cement, you need some rock and sand to mix with the Portland cement that then hardens into something you can walk or drive on. The good news is that old cement can be ground up into rock and sand, perfect for new cement. 

The State of Utah has been grinding up old road bases for a while now. It not only saves the environment by reusing the material, it also saves you and I money in taxes. This recycled cement is available for all kinds of projects, not just roads. 

Mixing in Recycled Plastic Into the Asphalt 

India began experimenting with adding plastic beads to asphalt to strengthen roads and make them last longer. They take plastic that would end up in a landfill or even worse a river and turn it into small pellets. 

They have discovered that by adding it to an asphalt road base, it makes the surface more durable and therefore the road doesn’t need to be replaced as often. Like old cement, this keeps recycles old plastics and helps in the road building process. 

Read More: Should Utah Use This Technology That Makes Road Lines Glow?

Since India has found success with plastic in roads, other countries including the United States has begun to experiment with the idea. Utah is looking into new ways to strengthen roads using these technologies.

If we get good at preserving our roads, we may see less of those orange cones.