Paving the way; new transportation bill gives boost to rubber-modified asphalt paving as three states declare they will have scrap tire cleaned up by '95.

Rubber on the road is bad. Rubber in the road is good. And this is about the good." The recently passed Surface Transportation Act, which authorized $151 billion for federal aid to highway and transit programs through 1996, contains a provision requiring states to use rubber-modified asphalt in their highway projects.

The asphalt provision of the bill requires states to use 5 percent rubber in asphalt by 1994; 10 percent by 1995; 15 percent by 1996; and 20 percent by 1997. States must either promulgate regulations for a mixture determined by climate and topography, or the asphalt rubber cannot be less than 20 pounds recycled rubber per ton of hot mix or 300 pounds of …