Atlanta Tests Tire-Rubber Asphalt on Ellis Street

The city's first rubber-modified asphalt road, using recycled tires in the binder, is being evaluated for wider use across Atlanta.

Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Fresh dark asphalt road receding through a downtown Atlanta corridor under warm late-afternoon sunlight, with brick buildings and tree canopy at the edges. — Atlanta has installed its first rubber-modified asphalt roadway on Ellis Street, using recycled tires in the binder, as city officials weigh wider use citywide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government pay more upfront for longer-lasting recycled-rubber road surfaces?

Atlanta installed its first rubber-modified asphalt roadway about a year ago, with one of the first applications on Ellis Street in downtown Atlanta. The surface incorporates recycled tires into the asphalt binder and has produced a quieter ride, reduced wear and tear, and helped lessen summer street heat.

Why it matters

Atlanta transportation leaders are looking to install the material in many parts of the city, citing long-term savings from fewer repairs and replacement cycles despite a higher upfront cost. The approach could influence how Atlanta-area residents experience road quality and maintenance spending over the coming years.

Liberty Tire Recycling reports rubber-modified asphalt lasts about 40 percent longer than conventional pavement, with an expected extra lifespan of three to five years. Atlanta's first installation is roughly one year old, so long-term Atlanta-specific performance data is not yet available.

The players

Liberty Tire Recycling

Liberty Tire Recycling is a tire-recycling company whose estimate that rubber-modified asphalt lasts about 40 percent longer is cited in the report.

Georgia

Georgia is the U.S. state that is investing in the rubber-modified asphalt product, as referenced in the report.

The details

Rubber-modified asphalt incorporates recycled tires into the asphalt binder and is used on busy downtown corridors. Compared with conventional pavement, the material can cost more to install initially, but officials cite lower repair and replacement needs over time.

Approximately one year before November 7, 2026: Atlanta installs its first rubber-modified asphalt roadway.

Roadmap

Connecticut already incorporates recycled tire material into asphalt-rubber chip seals on lower-volume roads, and New York City has used rubber-modified asphalt in limited applications. Atlanta's downtown deployment places the material on heavier-traffic corridors, a larger test than much of the Northeast has attempted.

Drivers on the streets where the material is installed may notice a quieter ride and fewer repair disruptions. Residents should expect that wider adoption would mean changes to road maintenance schedules and possibly to how city repair budgets are allocated.

The takeaway

Rubber-modified asphalt trades a higher upfront cost for potentially longer-lasting roads, making it a practical option for cities weighing maintenance budgets. Atlanta's early results will show whether the savings hold up under real downtown traffic.