Idaho's Ada County Highway District has decided to try out permeable pavers in two downtown alleyways in the city of Boise. Despite the increased installation costs, officials say reduced maintenance needs and improvements in stormwater management have demonstrated financial benefits in other
cities in the U.S.
Photo: Ada County Highway District/Idaho Statesman

Permeable pavers have been installed in two alleyways in downtown Boise, Idaho; one installation was added between 3rd and 4th streets, north of Main Street, and one was placed between 13th and 14th streets north of Main.

Permeable pavers may be initially more costly than asphalt, but ACHD says other cities around the country using them are seeing financial benefits when it comes to maintenance, according to The Idaho Statesman.

The process to ready the alleys for the permeable pavers required excavation of the alleys, the addition of poured cement borders, and the layering of several levels of rock and gravel, ACHD spokesperson Nicole Pineda said. The permeable blocks, which look similar to bricks, were put in place and pebble-sized gravel filled the joints between
the blocks.

ACHD will monitor the pavers for three to four years to ensure they are improving stormwater drainage.