100% recycled glass foam supports added lanes on Arizona's I-17
Arizona engineers utilized recycled glass foam as a lightweight structural fill to expand Interstate 17 without damaging existing drainage culverts. This innovative approach saved costs and addressed structural limitations in a high-traffic corridor.
Why it matters
It demonstrates a practical application of sustainable materials in large-scale infrastructure projects to solve complex engineering challenges.
Engineers in Arizona have used an unusual material to expand a major interstate: tens of thousands of tonnes of crushed recycled glass. During the expansion of Interstate 17 north of Phoenix, construction crews used ultra-lightweight foam glass aggregate at 19 locations along a 23-mile section. The material, made entirely from recycled glass, provided a lightweight structural fill that allowed existing drainage culverts, built decades ago for a two-lane highway, to support extra traffic lanes without being crushed by the added weight. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), this was the first time foam glass aggregate had been used in a state infrastructure project.
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