RANCHO SANTA FE — Road repair work that has begun around the Covenant will result in several streets being resurfaced with a new treatment known as rubberized asphalt concrete, or RAC.

On April 8, crews began grounding down old road surfaces along Paseo Delicias. The new street will receive an improved treatment known as RAC, which will provide a longlasting surface and superior wet-weather traction. The new surface will also resist cracking, retain its original color so road markings are clearly visible and can significantly reduce traffic noise.

California produces more than 40 million waste tires annually. Although approximately 75 percent of this amount is recycled, the state faces the challenge of dealing with roughly 10 million surplus tires annually. Of that number, the majority of surplus waste tires end up in landfills, and some end up in illegal stockpiles.

Over the past few years, California has used nearly 10 million waste tires in RAC paving projects, saving them from disposal.

Rubberized roads have been successfully used in street-paving projects by state and local transportation agencies throughout California. Made by blending ground up waste tire carcasses with asphalt and then applying the mix to road surfaces, a 2-inch thick layer of RAC can save as much as $20,000 per lane mile — compared to a 4-inch thick layer of conventional asphalt — and use more than 2,000 waste tires over that distance.

According to Covenant Administrator Ivan Holler, roads to receive the rubberized asphalt concrete include Paseo Delicias (from La Flecha to Del Dios Highway), La Granada (from Avenida de Acacias to Los Morros) and Avenida de Acacias (from Mimulus to San Elijo). “Other roads may be rubberized, too, rather than receive the standard asphalt resurfacing,” Holler said. To help make decisions as to which roads should be rubberized and which roads should have priority to be resurfaced, the Rancho Santa Fe Association has retained Tom Perry, a lawyer and civil engineer who has worked with the county’s road and traffic department. “Tom speaks the language that will help sort out which roads receive priority,” said Holler, as he addressed the Association’s board of directors.

In other association news, Bruce Bishop was approved to be the election inspector for the upcoming election of new board members. “I’d like to remind everyone that residents of the covenant have until April 25th to register to vote for the upcoming election, which is May 8th,” Manager Pete Smith said.

Residents can register at the Association office, and if anyone has questions about registration, they can call Jill at (858) 756-1174. The annual Meet the Candidates reception will begin at 5 p.m. May 8, followed by a 5:45 p.m. meeting at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club.