The Arizona Department of Transportation has been a national pioneer for more than 25 years in the mixing of used tires with asphalt for better highway pavements.

In 1998, ADOT launched a record construction program, using approximately 2.5 million tires to finish more than 700 miles of resurfacing. ADOT utilizes more than 30 percent of all tires used in Arizona by cities, counties, state agencies, federal government and private companies.

Rubberized asphalt improves smoothness, retards cracking and reduces maintenance. It is twice as durable as conventional asphalt and is so quiet that it is oftern referred to as "silent asphalt" in Europe.

The usage of rubberized asphalt culminates years of research done by the Department with the support of the Federal Highway Administration. More than 40 research studies were conducted in that time, producing paving standards for rubberized asphalt used nationally today.