Michigan Is Testing Two Roads Made From Old Tires

Michigan roads are so bad at this point, I’m pretty sure most of us would support paving them with almost anything.

Ann Arbor is testing a new type of asphalt made with recycled tires, and honestly, if it means smoother roads and fewer potholes, I’m down.

The city is repaving a couple of streets using rubberized asphalt, which mixes shredded scrap tires into the pavement. Officials say it could make roads quieter, safer in wet weather, and longer lasting than regular asphalt.

See Also: Michigan Bans Bradford Pear Tree, Adds 5 Other Invasive Plants

The Roads Could Last Longer and Be Quieter

According to MLive, this stuff could extend the life of roads by 30% or more. That’s a pretty big deal in Michigan, where it feels like road crews barely leave before the pavement starts cracking again.

They also say the roads should be smoother and reduce traffic noise. Honestly, if you’ve ever driven in other states and noticed how strangely quiet the roads are compared to Michigan, this could be part of the reason why.

States like Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas have been using rubberized asphalt for years, so it’s not like this is some wild new experiment. Some of those states have been paving roads this way for decades.

Michigan Roads Could Soon Be Made From Thousands of Old Tires

This project alone will recycle about 2,000 old tires. Ann Arbor says residents generate more than 70,000 scrap tires every year, and a lot of them end up in landfills or burned off. So, yeah, this could be huge.

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Now look, I don’t know if tire roads are the magical answer to Michigan potholes, but I’m all for trying something different because whatever we’ve been doing clearly isn’t working.