BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A pedestrian improvement project using environmentally friendly concrete along Elwood Avenue and 32nd Street is nearing completion.

The project will implement a new curb, gutter and sidewalk. The project was identified in the Pedestrian Master Plan to provide sidewalk connections and update old ADA ramps.

The City of Bellingham was approached by Washington State University for a real-world location to install test sections of Biochar concrete. Bellingham Public Works Communications and Outreach Coordinator Torhil Ramsay says they are always looking for more environmentally friendly ways to perform public works operations, so the partnership was a natural choice.

Biochar concrete combines organic waste with regular cement, reducing its carbon footprint by 50%. In October, crews poured the test sidewalk panels. Additional striping, sidewalks and ADA ramps are set to be installed in coming weeks as the weather allows.

The project allowed the city to test out a more environmentally friendly product on a small section of sidewalk. Ramsay said the installation also offered training opportunities to newer city staff while making pedestrian improvements to the area.

The test sections will be monitored over a three-year period through sensors in the sidewalk panels that measure humidity, temperature and strain. This will determine whether the cement has the durability to be used in future projects.