Lexington to test rubberized asphalt on Southland Drive

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Southland Drive in Lexington is getting an environmentally friendly 2,400 foot stretch of roadway upgrade. The rubberize asphalt consists of regular asphalt mixed with crumb rubber made from recycled tires.

Lexington has received a $98,850 grant from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet for a rubberized asphalt test program. The grant money comes from the $2 a tire recycle fee you pay when you buy new tires.

Other new additions include; sidewalks, new trees and new art installations.

All of Southland Drive will be repaved right after the sidewalk project is completed. The section from Nicholasville Road to the railroad overpass will be paved using rubberized asphalt while the rest of the roadway, all the way to Rosemont Garden, will be paved using conventional asphalt.

The grant requires the city to monitor the roadway for five years and to record how well it fares against regular asphalt. Studies in other states have shown that rubberized asphalt lasts longer than conventional asphalt, which costs less.