N.C. Pedestrian Bridge Built With Recycled Timber

k How NCDOT Is Building A ,

by Ashley T. Memory

I n 1999, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) decreased landfi waste by nearly 4,000 tons (3,628 metric tons) through

recycling and waste-reduction activi- ties.These efforts yielded nearly $50,000 through the sale of recycled materials and saved the department more than $500,000 in disposal costs.

Though the cost-savings and the positive effects on the environment are significant, NCDOT is also work- ing to demonstrate the cultural bene- fits of recycling to help encourage .

more local participation. With this aim, NCDOT has created innovative programs that add value to local com-

munities as well as to the state. From reusing local landmarks to providing building materials for low-income families, the department's recycling efforts are preserving the state's natu- ral resources and are enriching com- munities throughout North Carolina.

Resource Conservation The mission of NCDOT's Resource Conservation program is to improve markets for recycled products.The program, which is led by conserva- tion engineer Marie Sutton, also over- sees the department's recycling activities, measuring the value and reporting the results.

Sutton stresses that conservation is a collaborative effort. For example, an information exchange between Sutton and the value engineering

staff, which studies product perform- ance and cost-feasibility, gives both sides valuable insight.

"Working alongside engineering analysts provides the perfect oppor- tunity to introduce new materials:' said Sutton. "I also look to them for guidance on how the final cost of a project will be affected by the addi- tion of recycled products."

Critical assessment of the depart- ment's recycling efforts is a necessity for Sutton, as the use of recycled materials is not always the most cost- effective method of construction - at least not in the short term. Due to the success of NCDOT's recent work, however, there is solid evidence that recycling is getting "greener" in terms of cost-recovery, as well as environ- mental sustainability.

NCDOT conservation engineer Marie Sutton showcases the wide range of materials made from recycled products at last year's N.C. Project Green technology fair.

PUBLIC ROADS JULY/AUGUST 2000

Reusing materials from historic bridges such as the 48-year-old John Lawson Bridge in New Bern adds value to communities.

Greener Highways Since the Resource Conservation Program was established eight years ago, Sutton has gained much knowl- edge about which materials perform best in highway construction. She recently put her experience to the test on a section of Raleigh's much- awaited Outer Loop, which was com- pleted in December 1999. The project employed the widest use of recycled materials by NCDOT to date. Contract- ors who bid on the project were required to base their bids on the use of recycled materials; a list of which was provided by Sutton.

The length of the project - three miles (five kilometers) - made it a perfect candidate for an extensive use of numerous recycled products. Nineteen tons (17.2 metric tons) of tire chips (about 1,900 tires) were tilled into the embankments to help aerate the soil. Products made from recycled plastic were installed throughout the project, including 2,800 guardrail offset blocks, 2,500 fence posts, and 270 flexible delin- eators.

The project also used donated materials. Coal fly ash was donated by local power companies to mix with concrete to stabilize 1,350 lin- ear feet (410 meters) of sign posts. The city of Raleigh donated 260 tons (236 metric tons) of municipal sludge to the department to use in place of agricultural limestone fertilizer, saving the department $15,000.

The use of recycled products added just a quarter of 1 percent to the frnal cost of the project. Since this project's contract was awarded, 10 more contracts with recycling specifications have been awarded for highway construction.

NCDOT is also working to incor- porate the use of recycled products in departmental expansion projects - an effort that has proven to be measurably cost-effective. Recently, the Charlotte maintenance yard replaced traditional stone with more than 200 tons (182 metric tons) each of steel slag and crushed glass to sta- bilize a portion of the work yard and to provide bacMill and drainage around three sides of a new storage building.The crushed glass was pro- vided by the Mkcklenburg County Recycling Center at no cost, and the steel slag was purchased at a cost of $4.50 per ton (per 0.907 metric ton) compared to $7.65 per ton of stone aggregate.The use of recycled materi- als yielded a total savings of more than $2,250.

Bridg3ng the Past When bridge demolition is required, this work is usually awarded to the contractor responsible for building the replacement bridge.As part of the contract, NCDOT retains items such as traffic equipment or aluminum guardrails for use in future construc- tion projects.The remaining materials are then disassembled and hauled

away by the con- !+' tractor. Some parts fl

of the bridge may 3 +-

be recycled, such as the expensive steel reinforcements that form the framework of the bridge, but the majority of the

1 ' ""'by

materials usually end up in the landfill.

A recent demolition project, how- ever, is setting a new standard among the contracting community. McLean Contracting of Baltimore, Md. - the frrm awarded the contract to demol- ish the 48-year-old John Lawson Bridge in New Bern, N.C. - is show- ing some creative alternatives to tra- ditional demolition. McLean, which also builds bridges and performs gen- eral marine construction, will reuse the steel beams for a crane support platform during the construction of a new pier for the U.S. Navy.The major- ity of the other materials will remain within the community of New Bern. The bridge deck, for example, is being crushed and sold to a local company specializing in the produc- tion of driveway stone.The concrete caps, wooden pilings, and the bridge tender's house are being sold to local residents for private use.

According to George Bosmajian, vice president of McLean Contracting, landfill fees are becoming cost- prohibitive.

"To keep our costs low, we've got to look outside traditional landfills for the disposal of demolition debris. For projects like the John Lawson Bridge, it's simply more economical to sell the materials for reuse rather than '

transport them to a landfL1I:'said Bosmajian.

Recycling local landmarks adds value to communities such as New Bern, which is famous for its pictur- esque scenery.

"The John Lawson Bridge has been a vital part of New Bern's history for as long as I can remember:' said NCDOT assistant resident engineer Freddie Criscitiello. "Reusing the bridge in other settings is not only environmentally sound, but it also helps our community retain an important link in our cultural her- itage."

There are feasible alternatives to demolition, especially for the state's historic metal truss bridges. Established in 1978, NCDOT's Bridge Relocation

PUBLIC ROADS JULY/AUGUST 2000

c- I - , ' , ,- -.';, ,,% $ , ,'-pc

1 , Ji stn~ction of these homes was com- pleted by volunteers, many of whom are working toward building their own homes. Community involven~ent

"P in the deconstruction and reuse pro- cess helps demonstrate to the p~iblic the value of recycling."

A New Face for Old Signs Until recently, the process for reusing the green, regulatory signs along the state's highways was anything but "green." In the past, the procedure for removing the old lettering stripped the sign of its chromate conversion

5 coating, which is necessary to retard corrosion.The application of the cluomate is an environinentally

Motorists visiting NCDOT's 62 rest areas and welcome centers will find

unfriendly process that would have to be repeated to recycle the sign. However, through a new partnership with the state Department of Correc- tions, highway signs will now be recycled using a more environmental-

recycling receptacles for most types of waste. ly sound system. In January 2000, the Department

of Corrections awarded a contract to and Reuse Program helps communi- ties retain and sometimes relocate these local landmarks for use else- where. For example, a bridge in Stokes County was moved by a pri- vate group to Glencoe Millvillage in Alamance County. In its new location, the bridge is used by pedestrians and bicyclists to cross a stream. Since its inception, the program has preserved 26 bridges throughout the state.

NCDOT recently proved that older building materials not only stand up to new construction, but they can also complement historic cornmuni- ties, such as Old Salem, a restored 18th-century Moravian settlement. In December 1998, the department opened the Old Salem Pedestrian Walkway with a bridge that was built using reclaimed timber. Sources include early 20th-century industrial buildings in North Carolina and Virginia.The oldest timber was sal- vaged from the harbor at Savannah, Ga., where it had been used as piling for more than 200 years.A picture of this popular "new" landmark in Winston-Salem was featured on the cover of the 2000 edition of the state's transportation map to help encourage environmentally friendly construction.

Right of Way Recycling is not traditionally associat- ed with right-of-way acquisition.

However, thanks to a new partner- ship between the NCDOT division office in Durham and the Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, selected homes located within the depart- ment's rights of way are getting a new lease on life.

Instead of demolishing these homes through traditional methods, which can pollute tlie air and increase landfill waste, the depart- ment permits Habitat for Humanity to partially disassemble them and store the materials in Habitat's reuse cen- ter. Materials salvaged include wood flooring, carpeting, cabinets, doors, windows, and appliances.These items are used in new construction for low- income families or resold by Habitat to the general public at reduced prices.

So far, three homes within the department's right of way in Holly Springs have been partially taken apart by Habitat, diverting a total of 4,000 pounds (1.8 metric tons) of demolition debris from the landfill. Due to the success of this program, other NCDOT division offices are planning to partner with local Habitat groups across the state.

"In addition to the economic and environmental benefits of our part- nership with NCDOT, there are numerous social benefits as well," said Scott Skrypek, Habitat's "deconstruc- tion" manager. "The partial decon-

Hydrostripper of Fergus Falls, Minn., for the purchase of a state-of-the-art, high-pressure water system, which is being installed at a sign reclaiming plant in Carthage. Inmates of a Carthage correctional facility will recycle the signs using the new sys- tem, which will not damage the alu- minum, allowing the sign to be reused over and over again. In addi- tion to the environmental benefits, NCDOT expects to save about $250,000 per year, using this new sys- tem.

Waste Reduction As one of the state's largest employ- ers, NCDOT is a significant generator of solid waste. In response to grow- ing amounts of waste, the depart- ment has stepped up its recycling and waste-reduction efforts. In 1997, NCDOT received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Waste Reduc- tion in recognition of the depart- ment's achievements. Last summer, employees throughout NCDOT par- ticipated in training provided through N.C. Wastewise, a voluntary program promoting waste prevention, recy- cling, and the purchase of recycled materials by businesses, nonprofit .

organizations, and state agencies. In addition to recycling oftice

waste, the department is also proac- tive in reducing waste generated in the field.The ferry division recycles

PUBLIC ROADS JULY/AUGUST 2000

participated in a technology fair held in Raleigh, sharing it& , environmental efforts 5 with other state

The latest section of Interstate 540 in Raleigh features the installation of nearly 3,000 guardrail offset blocks made from recycled plastic.

recovered bilge oil, used engine oil, brass, copper, steel, and other metals from operations at the shipyard.The rail division recycles lead acid batter- ies, oil filters, and used oil durllg maintenance work.The department's motor fleet reuses antifreeze, recycles lead acid batteries and motor oil, and retreads vehicle tires. In addition, NCDOT and the N.C. Department of Corrections created a training pro- gram for inmates to repair electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic tools used

Ions. in NCDOT's operqt' The department is also committed

to helping motorists recycle. In 1998, 70,000 pounds (31.75 metric tons) of recyclable waste was collected from rest areas.The waste was sorted and transported to collection centers throughout the state.To help stream-

line collection and encourage public participation, NCDOT added recy- cling containeks to its 62 rest areas and welcome centers. Motorists may nowiort all types of recyclable waste, including clear glass, green glass, brown glass, aluminum, plastic, and newspaper.

Educating the Public Investing in the environment is important, but the department is also providing outreach and public educa- tion activities to ensure that citizens have the knowledge they need to take care of their world.

NCDOT is a member of N.C. Project Green, a partnership created by Gov. J . h Hunt to encourage envi- ronmental sustainability in state gov- ernment. In July 1999, NCDOT

agencies. Exhibits included recycled

fuel vehicles, and products, alternative

wildflower displays. This year's event, NC Clean & Green 2000, was open to the general public, as well as to state agencies, with the participation of local universities.

Members of N.C. Project Green are encouraged to create annual environ- mental plans to demonstrate their commitment to the project. One of NCDOT's plans includes the con- struction of a "green" rest area off of Interstate 40 in Clyde, N.C.The proj- ect will replace an existing older facility, and it is intended to showcase "best practices" in environmentally friendly construction.The rest area, which is currently under design, will be built using recycled materials and will feature the application of alterna- tive energy technologies. Locating the facility in such a heavily traveled cor- ridor will give thousands of visitors - from throughout the state and beyond - the opportunity to see for ,

themselves that recycled products do serve as viable construction materials.

For Sutton, sharing the depart- ment's work with the public gives her great satisfaction.

"Transportation touches every- one," she said. "Using recycled prod- ucts in transportation projects is one of the best things we can do to prove to citizens that NCDOT is working to preserve our state's precious natural resources.And if they see that we care, maybe they'll care more, too."

Ashley T. Memory is a public rela- tions officer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. She serves on the advisory panel of N.C. Project Green, an interagency associa- tion dedicated to environmental sus- tainability in government, and she is a member of the North Carolina Association of Government Information Officers. Her work has also recently appeared in North Carolina Wildlife. She has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

PUBLIC ROADS JULY/AUGUST 2000