As part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of cement and concrete to sustainable building solutions, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) honored the City of Dallas’ Street Services Department with a 2008 PCA Sustainable Leadership Award. Kelly High, director, Street Services Department accepted the award on behalf the department.
The PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards honor public officials who utilize cement or cement based products to achieve sustainable benefits. Dallas’ Street Services team project won for its innovative program to reuse, reclaim and recycle the materials used in roadway rehabilitation, restoration and partial reconstruction.
One of the most cost-effective, durable and sustainable methods the Department of Street Services has embraced is the use of FDR with cement for its street restoration program. Using FDR with cement means worn-out asphalt pavement can be rebuilt while recycling the existing roadway. The old asphalt and base materials are pulverized, mixed with cement and water, and compacted to produce a strong, durable base for either an asphalt or concrete surface. By using the old asphalt and base material for the new road, there is no need to haul in aggregate or haul out old material for disposal, reducing the amount of fuel consumed and reducing fuel emissions in the area.
The City of Dallas estimates that it is recycling an average of 80 percent of its existing street materials; simultaneously the program provides significant savings on roadway repair and restoration costs. Dallas commuters and residents also benefit from the FDR process which reduced the time needed for road construction. "We are able to get our streets back to commuters faster than we’ve done in the past," stated High.
