County supervisors acted unanimously this week to — literally — put the rubber to County roads, voting Wednesday to spend roughly $2.15 million to resurface roads around unincorporated communities using “rubberized slurries.”
Rubberized emulsion aggregate “slurries” mix rubber crumbs such as recycled tires with asphalt, water and emulsifiers to create mixtures that are used to top roadways.
Rubberized slurries not only seal roads to protect them and make them “live” longer, they can reduce noise, increase safety by improving traction and — according to the Environmental Protection Agency — even reduce “heat islands” by cooling faster than regular sun-soaked asphalt.
The Board of Supervisors’ action Wednesday clears the way for the County Department of Public Works to seek bids from companies to resurface roads in unincorporated areas around Encinitas, in Boulevard, Borrego Springs, Jamul, Julian, Lincoln Acres, Pala, Twin Oaks and Wynola. Work is expected to begin in spring and be completed by winter of next year.
Public works crews maintain more than 1,930 miles of roads, enough to stretch from San Diego to Mobile, Alabama.
To fight the harmful effects of sun, heat, traffic and water that can rip, tear, create bumps and potholes, County crews spend the year sweeping roadways, applying new asphalt overlays, seals and slurries.
