The Texas Department of Transportation’s San Angelo District recently received recognition for turning old vehicle tires into smoother, longer-lasting roads.

[Above photo by TxDOT]

In recent construction projects in the San Angelo area, TxDOT said it repurposed 135,389 recycled tires into road pavement treatment materials – helping divert thousands of tires from city and county landfills while simultaneously improving roadway durability and performance.

“By repurposing materials typically discarded in a landfill, we’re enhancing the durability and performance of our roads while also safeguarding the environment,” explained Chris Cowen, an engineer with the TxDOT San Angelo District, in a statement.

The agency noted that it works closely with a variety of industry partners statewide to incorporate recycled and environmentally responsible materials into different construction and maintenance projects – collaborating to promote environmentally responsible construction and maintenance practices wherever possible.

Several state departments of transportation have incorporated recycled materials into a number of transportation projects. For example, in 2024, the Utah Department of Transportation detailed how it recycled old concrete on the site of its Bangerter Highway project to help build the highway’s new interchanges. Also in 2024, the Idaho Transportation Department explained how it uses biodegradable erosion control loose weave “blankets” without joints that allow snakes and other wildlife to easily move over or through them. Those “blankets” play a key role in the agency’s

Erosion and Sediment Control or ESC practices that prevent soil loss and reduce sediment-laden stormwater runoff in and around transportation infrastructure. In 2022, the Arizona Department of Transportation outlined in a blog post how it reuses a variety of highway construction materials – such as asphalt, concrete, and steel – to reduce overall transportation project costs and preserve the environment.