After marinating in hot asphalt fumes for over 40 years (figuratively, we promise), Rod has officially reached "Asphalt Nerd" status. If there's anyone on this planet who knows more about asphalt plants, hot mixes, and the mystical art of pavement perfection, it's Rod.
Recently, he led a brave group of city officials, engineers, and inspectors on an epic, hour-long walking tour of his asphalt kingdom. And when we say "tour," we mean a masterclass - Rod style. He dropped knowledge bombs faster than a machine gun at full throttle, sparing no detail and definitely no dad jokes.
Time was tight, the info was dense, and Rod was basically the asphalt version of a TED Talk... if TED was wearing a hard hat and steel-toed boots.
Let's just say-everyone walked away smarter, slightly sweaty, and maybe with a new appreciation for what goes into the road beneath their feet.
At All Roads, we're more than just asphalt producers — we're educators, innovators, and community partners. Our mission is to share knowledge and raise awareness about the latest advancements in asphalt technology. That's why we offer guided foot tours of our cutting-edge asphalt plant, located right here in the Greater Vancouver area.
During your visit, you'll follow the full journey of asphalt production — from raw materials like gravel and liquid asphalt cement (AC binder), to the finished product used on roads across the region. You'll also get an inside look at the science and strategy behind our 32+ custom asphalt mix designs: why they're developed, how they're applied, and what makes them essential for different infrastructure needs.
As Canada's greenest asphalt plant, All Roads is setting new standards in sustainable infrastructure. We use advanced technologies that reduce emissions, recycle materials, and improve energy efficiency — and we're eager to show you how.
We want to educate local engineers, municipalities, public works departments, and community leaders on the latest and most environmentally responsible asphalt solutions. From plant technology to lay-down systems, All Roads is proud to lead the way in innovation and environmental stewardship.
Whether you're a professional in the field or simply curious about how roads are made, we invite you to book a tour and discover what makes our facility — and our mission — so unique.
Let's build smarter, greener roads together!
Get ready to explore the 16 essential factors that power this plant’s environmental excellence.
The plant uses an Ultra II™ Low NOx burner - a high-efficiency combustion system that significantly reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are major contributors to smog and air pollution. It achieves this by precisely controlling the air-fuel mix, maintaining uniform flame patterns, and lowering peak combustion temperatures.
This system sucks down and captures blue smoke or vapor emissions from silos and traverse units, reroutes them back into the drum, and uses heat to burn off pollutants. It's simple but highly effective.
Think of it as a giant, high-efficiency vacuum cleaner with 870 filter bags. It maximizes airflow while minimizing dust and emissions, outperforming conventional pulse-jet systems. Dusts collected are recycled back to the production process too.
Flue Gas Recirculation (FGR) reuses some exhaust gases to lower combustion temperature and further reduce NOx. Demisters remove oil mist from exhaust before it's released into the atmosphere.
Beneath the plant lies an advanced stormwater management and siltation system. All surface runoff is captured, filtered, and stored on-site - ensuring that treated water is safely returned to the environment. Oh, did we mention our entire property footprint is fully paved, which is not typical with asphalt plant sites?
These condensers, used on Hy-Way asphalt storage tanks, capture vapor emissions and convert them back into liquid. This allows the vapors to be recycled back into the tank instead of being released into the air.
Fuel choice matters. This plant runs entirely on natural gas - the cleanest-burning fossil fuel - eliminating the use of diesel or oil.
The plant features particulate sensors that continuously monitor air quality. It's like having a "Fitbit" for the exhaust stack - alerting staff immediately if anything is off-spec so it can be fixed fast.
A high percentage of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is used in the mixes. This gives old roads new life - benefiting both the environment and the economy.
Our in-house lab is certified by the Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories. Built solely for quality control, it allows us to test materials before external inspections. We want to know exactly what we're laying on our roads.
Our control tower's automation system reads truck license plates, identifies tare weights, and loads each truck to full capacity. This reduces the number of trips required, lowering overall emissions.
Approximately half of our aggregates are delivered by barge, reducing the number of trucks needed on local roads.
Our yard is engineered with natural slopes to make the most of gravity, maximizing liquid asphalt usage and aiding in efficient stormwater management.
Diesel is not allowed on site - period. We provide an environmentally friendly release agent, free of charge, to prevent asphalt from sticking to truck beds.
By storing fine aggregates like sand under cover, we avoid using extra energy to dry wet materials - saving significant greenhouse gas emissions, especially in Vancouver's rainy climate.
Thanks to our highly efficient automated loading process, trucks spend minimal time idling in the yard - further reducing emissions.