Super Sand Mix: High-Performing Roads From Fewer Materials

Innovation in Action

At the heart of the Luna Road project was Super Sand Mix (SSM), an innovative asphalt mix designed with more than 42% of the virgin binder replaced by recycled and repurposed components including four key recycled materials:

• Recycled asphalt pavement (RAP)
• Infused fibers
• Waste sand
• Used tire rubber

This approach not only reduced the need for new raw materials but also significantly lowered material costs for the city, while helping divert waste streams that would otherwise end up in landfills.

Ensuring Longer Life

SSM is specifically engineered for industrial and rural county roads where durability and resistance to extreme loading conditions are critical, resulting in pavements that are:

• More resistant to water infiltration and damage
• Less prone to cracking and washouts
• More durable over time

Rigorous performance testing throughout the project ensured long-term durability and resilience. Warm-Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology lowered production and placement temperatures, reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Designed for Performance

The productivity results and economic benefits were immediate and measurable. Prior to reconstruction, the average travel speed on Luna Road was 10 miles per hour due to poor surface conditions. After project completion, this has increased to a travel speed of approximately 40 miles per hour.

This project is a model for modern infrastructure delivery — combining recycled materials and performance innovation. SSM demonstrates how forward-thinking asphalt design can create more resilient infrastructure — one road at a time.