Darrin Carroll was running a little late for work. At about 7:20 a.m. on a cold January morning in 2019, the sun had not yet shown its face in northern Kentucky. Carroll, who had just reassured his employer that he was on his way, steered his red 2003 Chevrolet flatbed truck east along Richwood Road, a typical two-lane ribbon of black top. That's when everything went wrong.

Researchers in Missouri are deploying an additive derived from plastic straws, bags and bottles into a test road in hopes of increasing asphalt pavement life and environmental benefits. 

Asphalt additives called rejuvenators show potential for facilitating higher proportions of recycled asphalt pavement in road mixes.

The cost of funding research and shepherding new materials through the regulatory process was often paid by trade groups.