The City of Fort Wayne is testing new sidewalk material made from recycled rubber tires and plastics, such as milk jugs. The innovative move brings a safer path for neighbors, allows tree roots to breathe and expand and saves costs to the City.
88 square yards of the Terrewalk pavers will be used around trees in a new five block sidewalk located between Vance Avenue and St. Joe River Drive on Parnell Avenue.
For residents in the area the new sidewalk is a welcome site, they've had no sidewalk and have had to walk in the street. It's a safer path for neighbors and those students who walk to nearby North Side High School.
“The new sidewalk is definitely needed and will improve safety for walkers. It's a tremendous asset for the neighborhood. For the environment, the fact that the pavers are made of recycled material is a big plus. Reusing what we've discarded is a sound principle and that reduces our carbon footprint. We have to continue to look for more of these types of efforts in the future,” said Mayor Tom Henry.
Traditional concrete sidewalks are thicker and are poured deeper into the ground. They often impede root systems and cause the roots to push through the concrete causing the sidewalks to buckle and making them uneven and difficult to walk on.
Terrewalks are about two inches thick and do not go down as far as a poured concrete sidewalk. This allows mature trees, like those on Parnell, to have more room for their root systems.
“Terrewalks give the mature trees a better chance to thrive and extend their useful lives. Trees are important to a neighborhood. They help reduce stormwater runoff, provide shading to reduce energy costs for residents, and raise real estate values,” said Chad Tinkel, Arborist - City of Fort Wayne.
The cost of the project was just over $152,000. It's believed that the durability and longevity of the Terrewalks will save us money down the road.
“We believe the pavers will be cost effective because with current concrete sidewalks anytime we have a repair, it can be expensive as we have to tear up the entire sidewalk. With the pavers we'll be able to lift one to trim the roots and then put the paver back in place,” said Bob Kennedy, Director of Public Works.
The Terrewalks pavers weigh about 36 pounds and come in a 2 x 2.5 foot panel. The sidewalk is formed by interlocking the pavers which is able to support about 3000 pounds. Because of the recycled material used, they are softer than concrete walks.
Fort Wayne is one of 35 communities around the country that has tried this innovative Terrewalk. The City will still use concrete for sidewalks but the pavers will be considered for specialized settings in the future.