Innovative Road Repair Process in Northbrook Lessens Environmental Impact, at Lower Cost

Construction is underway in the Countryside neighborhood in unincorporated Northbrook, where an innovative project of road stabilization and repairs promises to deliver smoother, more durable pavement that should last 16 years. The Northfield Township Road District has contracted with Rock Solid Stabilization & Reclamation, as well as Peter Baker & Son Paving, to install new streets in the neighborhood for the first time in a decade. The plan includes the recycling of old paving materials on-site, cutting back on the environmental impact of placing old road materials in landfills and saving the township over $500,000 in transportation and disposal costs.

The Rock Solid approach to road stabilization involves the pulverization of existing pavement, aggregate surface, and aggregate base materials. In a traditional project, these materials would be broken into large chunks that would then be trucked off to landfills, and new materials would then have to be trucked in. In the Countryside project, about 2.5 inches of existing pavement have been milled, followed by a pulverization and full depth reclamation process that creates a durable foundation for the new road surface. Processing the old materials on-site reduces construction traffic up to 50%, lowering the project’s carbon footprint and reducing traffic headaches for neighborhood residents. The process also allows for the reuse of industrial byproducts such as CKD, fly ash, and LKD, and minimizes the need to purchase new aggregate. After a week of time to cure, Peter Baker & Son Co. will apply the surface course materials.

“We are excited by the many benefits offered by this new construction technique,” commented Peter Amarantos, Northfield Township Road Commissioner. “We are getting the best of both worlds, by lowering our costs while also lowering the negative environmental impact of the project. We appreciate the cooperation of neighbors who have helped the process by parking their cars off the street and keeping their driving to a minimum on the new surfaces. Weather permitting, we look forward to having beautiful new roads completed in Countryside by early November.”

For more information about Northfield Road District programs, visit http://www.northfieldtownship.com/road-district.html or call 847 724 7055.

Photo Caption: Specialized equipment in use at the Countryside neighborhood road repair project enables the contractor to re-use existing road materials on-site.

About the Northfield Township Road District:

Located in northern Cook County, Illinois, Northfield Township is comprised of the villages of Glenview, Northbrook and Northfield, and represents nearly 78,000 residents. Working together in a cooperative and professional effort with neighbors, Cook County, the State of Illinois, and the surrounding villages, the Road District identifies problems and develops practical, cost-effective solutions. The Road District also provides assistance with recycling and hazardous waste disposal for Township residents. For more information, visit http://www.northfieldtownship.com/road-district.html.