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Rubber Sidewalks in Seattle NEW! South Park Chosen for Innovative Rubber SidewalksSeattle First in the State to Pilot Recycled Materials to Allow Tree Roots to Breathe, Expand, and Save Costs to City 
SEATTLE - The City of Seattle has taken a bold step in testing new sidewalk materials - The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will install 375 square feet of rubberized sidewalk pavers along the west side of 8th Avenue South between the South Park Community Center and South Rose Street. South Park was selected because the community has a number of mature trees with surface roots causing sidewalk damage and the neighborhood received funding for spot sidewalk repairs through the City’s Cumulative Reserve Fund. Work began on Monday, September 26th and is expected to be mostly complete by Thursday, September 30th.
Other South Park sidewalks have been repaired with asphalt paving that can be installed over the roots. The new rubber sidewalks will give the three existing street trees a better chance to thrive and extend their useful lives. The rubberized sidewalk panels also make use of recycled materials - there is one recycled tire for every 2 x 2.5 foot panel. 
This new sidewalk material has been used extensively by other cities, especially in California where the product is made. Like recycled paper, the new material is a bit more expensive, but has advantages over traditional concrete. Sections can be removed and replaced, rather than having to tear up an entire section of sidewalk, which is expensive. The rubber sidewalks flex, so they’re softer and easier to walk on. This is important to the citizens of Seattle, as we are one of the most pedestrian-friendly cities in the nation.
According to Liz Ellis, the project manager, “Everyone benefits. The City will save money, we’re piloting an environmentally innovative product, and we’ll help Seattle’s trees.” September 28, 2006 |
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