In February, the city of Austin, Texas, completed a pilot project involving the construction of a sidewalk made with eco-friendly materials. Implemented in partnership with University Area Partners, the sidewalk, which is located on West 25th Street between Seton Avenue and Nueces Street and spans 780 square feet, is made from recycled tires, aggregate rock and a binding agent. The material is called Flexi-Pave by Virginia-based company Capitol Flexi-Pave, founded by degreed urban foresters who have years of experiences designing solutions for clients who want to preserve natural resources in urban settings.
Flexi-Pave is the ideal material for this project because unlike concrete, which requires digging to set, Flexi-Pave can be placed on a surface without requiring extensive digging, which means it can protect existing trees located near a project. The material is also known to be permeable, which means water can easily flow through it and help recharge the groundwater. The city considered other materials such as porous concrete and rubber pavement, but these tend to become warped in extreme weather and need extensive upkeep. Flexi-Pave has also been used to construct driveways and parking lots.
We love this for Austin, and we’ll definitely keep an eye out for similar projects—small or large scale—that use alternative materials!
Photo from Austin Transportation and Public Works
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