Constructing Green Roadways
The goal of the construction phase of a green roadway is to build with the smallest possible ecological footprint by reducing carbon dioxide, using more recycled materials, reducing the amount of virgin materials used, and lengthening the life span of the
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Constructing Green Roadways
The goal of the construction phase of a green roadway is to build with the smallest possible ecological footprint by reducing carbon dioxide, using more recycled materials, reducing the amount of virgin materials used, and lengthening the life span of the road before it has to be repaired or replaced. New roads can be constructed of recycled tires and shingles, fly ash, reclaimed asphalt pavement, and warm-mix asphalt and other processes that are affordable, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. (See “Air Quality” and “Generating Energy” sections in chapter 9.) Part of reducing the ecological footprint is to also take into account the energy used to manufacture materials, transport the materials to a job site, and then build the roadway and supporting transportation structures. For new roads, the production and transport of materials causes significant environmental impacts.
Green Construction Practices Constructing roads is an expensive, time-consuming process, and the impacts to a community and to the environment can be substantial. Major cities seem to continuously have roads under construction. One of the first steps needed is the development of a
construction plan that outlines the process for constructing a given road. The plan defines where materials come from, responsibilities of each team member, processes and standards, and a detailed schedule of tasks. Each plan is unique to address the specific concerns of a project. Some of the construction practices that can help ensure that a transportation project is implemented in the most sensitive way possible are the following: Build for the long term. The goal for green roadways should be constructing roads that last as long as possible. Instead of building roads to last fifty years, we should be building them to last one hundred years. Even if initial costs are a little higher, the long-term results will be more cost-effective and will cause fewer impacts. Schedule construction to minimize impacts. Road construction should be minimized during specific times of years, such as the breeding season for any sensitive species, or during the rainy season, when impacts will be compounded. Consider the overall energy use of a project. The cost of building a road includes the cost of the energy it takes to deliver materials to a job site. A good rule of thumb is that the energy required to construct a road
J.L. Sipes and M.L. Sipes, Creating Green Roadways: Integrating Cultural, Natural, and Visual Resources into Transportation, DOI 10.5822/978-1-59726-322-1_10, © 2013 James L. Sipes and Matthew L. Sipes
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Protect important environmental, landscape, and cultural features. Ensure that trees, shrubs, landscape and cultural features, and environmentally sensitive areas to be preserved are identified and protected during construction. In areas where vegetation is to remain, avoid disturbance and compaction of the ground. Coordinate with construction personnel when planning and designing projects.
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