Small stretches of rubber sidewalks have been popping up in Calgary, serving an important role in keeping the city’s infrastructure intact.
For decades, city engineers struggled with mature tree roots cracking and lifting sidewalks, creating uneven steps and hazards for those who walk on them.
The city traditionally turned to asphalt in those situations.
“The hot asphalt is quite hot and can damage the tree root, so we found we’d end up with some root burn and potentially damage the tree,” Chris Oshust, the senior leader of concrete with the City of Calgary, said.
A pilot project launched in 2018 has proven to be a successful solution. Instead of asphalt, a rubber solution is poured over the roots, allowing it to move and stretch as the tree roots grow.
“The advantage is that it’s a safe way to maintain the sidewalk so we get rid of dangerous trip edges and maintain the health of the tree so we can …