San Rafael, CA – Another milestone has been reached in Marin County Department of Public Works’ (DPW) ongoing commitment to the county’s road conditions. Resurfacing and upgrading of over 2.5 miles of roadway was completed December 9 in the Marinwood neighborhood of unincorporated Marin.
The Marinwood paving project incorporated Cold In-Place Recycling technology, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The $2.3 million project was funded by the Road and Bridge Rehabilitation Program, a $48 million, six-year plan initiated by the Board of Supervisors in 2014. The program’s purpose is to maintain the County’s Pavement Condition Index, a nationally standardized rating system, and prevent further deterioration and safety issues. DPW is working to resurface 31 percent of its most used roads before 2020.
Construction work on the Marinwood project began September 6 and was carried out by Argonaut Constructors. The resurfacing was conducted using the Cold In-Place Recycling technology, an eco-friendly alternative to traditional paving practices that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent.
The method grinds off the top several inches of old pavement, milling it into the desired gradation. The reclaimed material is then mixed with a recycling agent and placed back on the roadway, where it is compressed and sealed. This entire process occurs efficiently onsite. In addition to its environmental benefits, this process costs less than other paving methods, as it uses less aggregate materials, fuel and labor hours.
Beyond resurfacing, multiple upgrades were made to the network of roads. Drainage improvements, traffic striping and signage, line-of-sight safety enhancements at intersections, and 35 disabled-accessible curbs were installed.
The roads that received treatment in the Marinwood neighborhood were Las Gallinas Avenue, Peachstone Terrace, Pinewood Drive, Quietwood Drive, Millstone Terrace and Valleystone Drive. Las Gallinas Avenue, which accounted for more than half of the work conducted, is classified as a major vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian corridor for the region by the California Department of Transportation’s California Road System.