4.03.08
My Fox Tampa Bay | Tampa Bay, FL
Summer Smith and KBI Chairman, Kevin Bagnall
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - One thousand feet of a tree-lined sidewalk in north Pinellas is about to feel a lot cushier. Pinellas County is testing a product called Flexi-Pave, developed by Clearwater-based K. B. Industries.

Flexi-Pave is a mixture of recycled rubber tires and rock. It has the ability to bend to the pressures of tree roots, eliminating uneven and cracked sidewalks.

"Any time you reduce maintenance you reduce costs," said the county's Ivan Fernandez. "If this pilot project works, then it would open the door to using this product at other locations where we have similar problems."

Company founder Kevin Bagnall expects officials from Malaysia, England, New York, and San Diego to come look at this new sidewalk within the next week. But he thinks his flexible material has an even greater attribute: Water flows right through it.

"Stormwater management is where we're focused as corporation, here in the U.S. and indeed abroad. Stormwater management is an increasing constructional problem," Bagnall said.

Eliminating the sheets of water that roll off parking lots and other hardened surfaces could reduce the need for retention ponds.

"We've got a product that makes sense - and by the way uses recycled tires," said Bagnall, who thinks his company is perfectly positioned for the growing "green" market.