MAT Asphalt to Host Open House on Saturday, September 21

Building on its ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor and educate the community about its operations, MAT Asphalt will host an Open House on Saturday, September 21st from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Operators of the asphalt pavement-making facility will set up a booth in the southeast area of McKinley Park, directly across the street from the entrance to MAT Asphalt’s location at 2033 W. Pershing Road.

Visitors will be provided information about the plant’s operations, a chance to ask questions of MAT Asphalt’s leaders, including co-owner Michael Tadin and general manager Joe Haughey, and to take a tour of the facility. Light snacks and drinks will also be provided.

“We are proud of our business, and we are excited to be working in the McKinley Park community,” said Tadin. “Our facility meets and exceeds environmental health and safety regulations. In fact, we have one of the most environmentally friendly asphalt plants in the nation—and possibly the most environmentally friendly.”

The plant opened in July 2018 under a one-year temporary permit issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. That permit remains valid, pending the IEPA’s determination of whether to issue a five-year permit. A decision on that permit is expected soon.

MAT Asphalt has led over 30 tours of its facility and continues to extend invitations for people to take tours, said Haughey.

“We have an open-door policy with the community,” he added. “We are more than happy to ensure that people have the facts about the efficient, modern way that we operate.”

A video providing an overview of MAT Asphalt’s operations is at https://tinyurl.com/MATAsphalt.

One of about 3,500 asphalt pavement-making facilities in the nation, and four in Chicago, the $10 million facility produces up to 400 tons of asphalt an hour, and meets strict environmental standards, including capturing dust particles and minimizing emissions.

In 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency removed asphalt plants as a major source of air pollution. In addition, air emissions are extremely low -- equivalent or well below emissions from a single bakery operating for about two weeks or from 13 residential fireplaces over a year.

The MAT Asphalt website (www.matasphalt.com) offers background on the asphalt paving products the facility produces, how it operates, and the numerous steps planners took to design and construct the facility to meet and exceed environmental requirements. The website also offers a video that provides a close-up view of its operations and answers questions that members of the community have raised.

The facility operates Monday through Saturday from approximately 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from the middle of April until early December. Its benefit to Chicago residents includes offering increased competition, which lowers street-paving costs to taxpayers. Already, contracts that MAT has secured through a sealed-bidding process have come in about $5 million lower than rival bidders.

MAT Asphalt was developed by a partnership that includes Buildsmore LLC, owned by Tony Sanchez; McKinley Park LLC, owned by Charles and Dan Gallagher; and MAT Asphalt LLC, owned by Michael Tadin Jr.

If you have questions or wish to schedule a tour, contact Joe Haughey, MAT Asphalt general manager, at jhaughey@matasphalt.com. Online: www.matasphalt.com.