WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
An innovative concept involving the use of recycled rubber from old tires recently brought some positive attention to St. Joseph County Road Commission.
The measure was applied to a half-mile stretch of Old M-103 in Mottville Township.
Instead of a costly rebuild, road commission officials in 2024 tested a road treatment in which a flexible layer that includes recycled tire material was applied beneath asphalt.
The goal was to slow cracking, extend the life of the road and make better use of limited road funding.
While long-term performance will continue to be monitored, the project shows potential as a cost-effective option for extending road life while reusing recycled materials, road commission officials said.
The situation is featured in the most-recent edition of Crossroads, the quarterly magazine of the County Road Association of Michigan.
