Rubber Sidewalks in Stockton

The Public Works Department received a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board to replace tree-damaged sidewalks with a tire-derived product to facilitate recycling of waste tires.

This is the second year that the City of Stockton has received the grant to install sidewalks made of waste tires. 

 

 

What are rubberized sidewalks?

The product is an interlocking modular recycled-tire-rubber sidewalk paving system of panels. The panels come in 2 foot by 2.5 foot by 1.857 inch tile panels made from 100 percent California tire waste.
Funding for the project came from a California Integrated Waste Management Board grant of $99,950.

Who makes them?

Rubbersidewalk Inc. located in Gardena, California.

Visit the website

Where are they in Stockton?

Rubber sidewalks have been installed at various locations throughout the city. Recently, the walkway surrounding the main Police Department on El Dorado Street and Market Street was repaired using the poured crumb-rubber process.

Last year, a similar product made of pre-fabricated panels of rubber sidewalk was used to repair tree-damaged locations. Each sidewalk panel equals one tire rescued from a landfill. The surface is hard enough to walk on, bike, skate, or roller blade on, but more forgiving and gentle to tree roots. Instead of breaking up, the panels flex when tree roots grow underneath a rubber sidewalk. Also, unlike concrete, the panels can easily be lifted for root maintenance, and then put back in place.  

The locations this product was installed are at: Bianchi Road west of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks; Tuxedo Avenue; Stockton Street; Arcade Street;  Mill Springs Drive; and Third Street.

A similar product is also being used on playgrounds in the City of Stockton.

Pixie Woods is using rubberized play mats in many of their play areas.

 

Are they cost effective?

No, not yet. Currently, Rubber sidewalks costs $24 per square foot for material and installation. Concrete removal and replacement, costs are $11 to $12 per square foot. The price for Rubber sidewalks should decrease as more municipalities use it.

There are only few manufacturers that supply the product, so the cost is still high, relative to concrete. The innovation of rubberized sidewalks is still evolving, and the current production of the product cannot meet our demand. Until then, we are enjoying the benefits of this “green solution” and its compatibility with our landscaping.

What are the benefits?

Rubber sidewalk installation minimizes the cutting of tree roots, so it does not undermine the integrity of the tree. The Rubber sidewalk is designed as a flexible membrane to accommodate growth of tree roots without cracking. The system allows moisture and air to pass through to the tree roots, encouraging the roots to grow less aggressively and deeper in the ground while retaining moisture. Unlike concrete, Rubber sidewalk pavers can be lifted for tree root trimming and then replaced. Crews can easily trim tree roots every 2 or 3 years while roots are still in the offshoot stage. Since this product is made of recycled rubber tires, it reduces the accumulation and stockpiling of tires in our landfills.