North Bay's Pioneering Pavement:
A 40-Year Success Story
In the heart of Ontario, the city of North Bay took a bold step in urban design that would prove to be decades ahead of its time. Back in 1983, when many cities were paving their streets with asphalt, North Bay opted for something different: interlocking concrete pavers. What started as a $3 million gamble has turned into a 40-year testament to innovation, durability, and smart city planning.
A Vision for the Future
Picture this: It’s the early 1980s, and North Bay, a city of 54,000, is facing a common urban challenge. How do you revitalize a downtown core that’s losing business to suburban malls? The solution they landed on was both aesthetic and practical – a 150,000 square foot makeover of Main Street using interlocking concrete pavers.
But this wasn’t just about looks. The city needed a surface that could withstand:=
  • 8,000 vehicles daily, including heavy trucks and buses
  • Temperatures swinging from a bone-chilling -40°C to a sweltering 35°C
  • Brutal freeze-thaw cycles with frost depths up to 8 feet
  • Annual deluges of 300 tons of road salt
  • The relentless scraping of snow plows
Proving the Skeptics Wrong
Their boldness paid off. Not only did the pavers meet the aesthetic goals, but they also exceeded all expectations for durability and cost-effectiveness:
Their boldness paid off. Not only did the pavers meet the aesthetic goals, but they also exceeded all expectations for durability and cost-effectiveness:
  • After 12 years: Zero maintenance required
  • At 16 years: Pavement condition rated "very good to excellent"
  • At 20 years: Expected to last another 15-20 years
  • After 32 years: Still performing, though ready for a refresh
The Numbers Don't Lie
A life cycle cost analysis at the 16-year mark revealed the true financial genius of the project. Compared to a traditional asphalt street:
  • Maintenance costs were $76,000 less per lane-kilometer
  • Rehabilitation was needed far less frequently (every 21 years vs. 18, 27, and 36 years for asphalt)
And these figures don’t even account for the reduced downtime and faster repairs that pavers allow – a significant but often overlooked benefit for businesses and residents alike.
A Legacy That Continues

North Bay’s success story didn’t end with Main Street. The city has since used interlocking pavers in numerous other projects, from sidewalks and boulevards to the award-winning Lake Nipissing Waterfront Park


As Adam Lacombe, North Bay’s senior capital program engineer, puts it: “Main Street has always been the centerpiece of the city, and the pavers set it off.” With plans for replacement beginning in 2017-2018, the city is looking to build on its pioneering legacy, considering not just aesthetics and longevity, but also modern concerns like environmental impact and stormwater management.

Lessons for Today's Urban Planners
North Bay’s 40-year experiment offers valuable insights for cities facing similar challenges today:

1. Think long-term: Although there are savings in the installation, the real savings come in when you consider the total cost of ownership over decades.

2. Embrace innovation: Sometimes the best solutions come from thinking outside the box (or the asphalt truck).

3. Design for resilience: In an era of climate change, infrastructure that can withstand extreme conditions is more crucial than ever.

4. Balance form and function: A solution that’s both practical and beautiful can revitalize a city’s heart.

As urban centers worldwide grapple with aging infrastructure and changing climate patterns, North Bay’s Main Street stands as a shining example of forward-thinking urban design. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most durable solutions are also the most elegant.
Disclaimer: Although the paving stones used in this study were concrete pavers rather than BlackTop Enduro™, it provides good data fully applicable to the use of BlackTop Enduro™ pavers.
North Bay Case Study 1991 Report
North Bay Case Study 2003 Report
North Bay Case Study 2015 Report
Black is the new Green

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