DOES SUPERPAVE HAVE A LOCAL FUTURE?

With state agencies adopting Superpave, county and city agencies are facing the prospects of having to switch as well. At the start of 2003, 47 states included Superpave as a standard or only specification for state DOT pavements. The most experienced road contractors are familiar with how to place it, and testing labs have been developed or revised to affirm the mix's performance. Paving equipment now exists to make Superpave easier to place and aggregate suppliers are making the touch, angular, low-sand, low-fines stones it needs. Estimates put the share of Superpave jobs offered by local governments at less than 10%, which shows how difficult it is to change the closed world of local agency specifications writing. One barrier for local agencies is that average daily traffic or car/truck counts need to be converted to equivalent single-axle loadings (ESALs) to specify the proper mix. The Asphalt Pavement Association of Indiana has developed a conversion chart that specifies which grade of binder is needed for which pavement course and for what traffic volume. Finally, the price differential is finally starting to narrow to the point where local agencies might be able to justify its initial higher cost. In addition, local governments that model their specs on state specs will find themselves having to switch. Provides links to numerous Web resources about Superpave.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Corporate Authors:

  James Informational Media, Incorporated

  2720 South River Road, Suite 126
  Des Plaines, IL  United States  60018-
• Authors:
  • Kuennen, T
• Publication Date: 2003-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 22-29
• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Volume: 73
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aggregates; Asphalt pavements; Binders; Hot mix asphalt; Local government agencies; Pavement performance; Specifications; Superpave
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00961158
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 2003 12:00AM