The city of Austin wrapped work on a sustainable sidewalk project that crews built using eco-friendly materials. The pilot ran along West 25th Street between Seton Avenue and Nueces Street in central Austin. The newly completed sidewalk comprises recycled tires, aggregate rock and a binding agent that is porous and flexible.
Austin partnered with Capitol Flexi-Pave on the project, with the more sustainable material designed to better protect trees in their 鈥渃ritical root zone,鈥� officials noted. 鈥淐oncrete requires digging to set, limiting its application near trees as they would damage the roots,鈥� the newsletter read, adding: 鈥淲hile concrete is impervious and no liquid can penetrate the material, Flexi-Pave鈥檚 permeability allows for water to flow through, providing better groundwater recharge protecting the roots.鈥�
Leadership of the Virginia-based Capitol Flexi-Pave are degreed urban foresters who 鈥渟pent years designing new ways to preserve trees in challenging urban settings,鈥� Capitol Flexi-Pave said.