Joe Wheeler State Park unveils new roads made from recycled tires

A new project at Joe Wheeler State Park focuses on being environmentally friendly while improving the park’s local roads.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday to unveil the resurfaced roads that were paved with asphalt made with materials from scrap tires.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management provided a $1.16 million grant to the state parks to do the repaving. One dollar from the sale of each tire in the state goes into the state’s Scrap Tie Fund, which is used to remove scrap tires from illegal dumps, along roadsides and other places, as well as promote the recycling of discarded tires.  

“Just about every Alabamian has seen discarded tires on roadsides, which often collect water and become breeding grounds for pests such as mosquitoes. Tires can also fill up landfills, which is something we also don’t want to happen. The best way to deal with old tires is to find an alternative use, which creates a market for them. Using recycled tires for asphalt is a perfect example of a beneficial use of discarded tires.”

~ ADEM Director Lance LeFleur

Much needed updates for park roads

The roads inside Joe Wheeler State Park had not been repaved in over two decades. With the rubber composition of the updated pavement, the roads are stronger, smoother and should last longer.

According to a release from Alabama State Parks, asphalt made with recycled tires has a long list of advantages over traditional asphalt. In addition to lasting up to 50 percent longer and being less prone to potholing and cracking, rubber-modified asphalt reduces tire wear, is quieter, improves fuel mileage because of lower rolling resistance, and is safer because of better traction and reduced misting on wet roads.

“We are incredibly grateful to ADEM, especially knowing the material used in the asphalt will require less maintenance and should last longer by holding up better in a wide variety of weather conditions. The smoother ride is definitely more pleasant for park-goers.”

~ ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship

The ADEM grant helped cover the cost of repaving roads inside the park, including the long access road from U.S. Highway 72 to the park’s lodge.

The rubber-style pavement has also been used in projects at Lake Guntersville State Park and DeSoto State Park in recent years.

New beach pavilion at Joe Wheeler

Friday’s event also celebrated construction of the park’s new beach pavilion, where the ribbon-cutting was held. A tornado destroyed the beach pavilion in December 2019.

Find out more how you can rent out the pavilions at Joe Wheeler State Park on its website.

Want more stories like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our FREE newsletter. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!