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September 26, 2008 - On Monday September 29, 2008, the City of Springfield Department of Public Works will begin a pilot study on the use of warm-mix asphalt, an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional asphalt.
Warm-mix asphalt technology involves the addition of a wax material to liquid asphalt. The wax additive decreases the degree of heat required for mixing and pouring asphalt by 50 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a reduction of fuel consumption during production. The decrease in temperature also causes a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during treatment.
“The City and Control Board are constantly looking for new and better ways to run City government,” said Stephen Lisauskas, Executive Director of the Springfield Finance Control Board. “This is a small step, but an important one. It will reduce energy usage and give us the opportunity to experiment with a new technology, to the benefit of the City and the other communities that want to follow its example.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said the pilot study is indicative of the aggressive, pro-active approach the City has taken on environmental issues.
“Springfield is once again getting out ahead of the curve regionally and nationally with our relentless pursuit of ‘greener’ alternatives, which is a standard that should permeate all that we do,” he said. “This technology has the potential to not only decrease the level of fuel consumption necessary to produce asphalt, but to also improve air quality conditions for workers and neighbors. That is worth getting excited about.”
For the pilot program, DPW will cover half of Slater Avenue with warm-mix asphalt and half of the street with traditional hot-mix asphalt. The department will then monitor how well the warm-mix asphalt performs during the course of six months to a year. After careful evaluations, the department will determine if the City should adopt warm-mix asphalt technology on a larger scale.
DPW Director Alan Chwalek said Slater Avenue lends itself well to the study because it is a well traveled street in a residential area. The street had been previously slated for pavement this year. Chwalek said the pilot program will commence Monday weather permitting.
“The Springfield DPW is extremely proud to lead in Western Massachusetts in embracing and evaluating this new technology,” said Chwalek. “We anxiously anticipate the results of the study.”
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