Abstract Manager

Agencies from provincial to local levels face 1) growing budget constraints, 2) shrinking labor availability and 3) calls for more sustainable products and service methods. With consideration of these three major factors, industry members are developing innovative products with installation methods that counter them.

This presentation will discuss the drawbacks of traditional cold mix asphalt for seasonal pothole and spall patching relative to budget, labor and sustainability, and introduce innovations in product and the resulting improvements in installation practices that can positively impact agencies. It will conclude with case studies tracking the performance of materials on bridges, rural routes and interstate highways over a one year period in a region experiencing temperatures ranging from -2 F to 95 F and hurricane, heat wave, ice storm and snow weather events.

Drawbacks of traditional cold mix asphalt:

• Environmental impact of material ingredients
• Installation methods and limitations
• Material performance under freeze thaw
• Variability in mix design
• Life cycle cost of repeated repairs

High expectations and benefits of innovative materials:

• Materials and respective suitable repairs
• Sustainable and recycled material content
• Environmentally activated cure for “anytime” repairs
• High bond strength; lasts until next resurfacing
• Minimalist and recyclable packaging in single use units
• Clean installation without heavy equipment required

Pivot from maintenance crew-based to universal repair agency:

• Resource savings from empowering anyone to repair
• Safety aspect of limited to no traffic control for repairs
• Positive public relations and potential liability reduction from damage claims
• Ultimately consuming less cubic meters of repair material because spalls are fixed as soon as they are identified

CASE STUDY PRESENTATION:

• Climate Conditions
• Visuals of pre-installation spalls and performance over time