Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 @ 01:23 PM
Here is a recent trench we completed in Newark, CA on Cedar Blvd. Check out the quick video shot of our crew working.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Mon, Sep 14, 2009 @ 02:24 PM
Sometimes Asphalt is better than concrete, and life-cycle costs can be one of those benefits where you'll save money.
- Reduces costs for initial construction.
- Requires less maintenance over the life of the pavement.
- Repaired and maintained cost-effectively with HMA overlays instead of complete removal and reconstruction with concrete.
- When maintenance is needed, HMA offers the widest variety of alternatives geared to solve the precise problems on the surface.
- Can be overlaid to add structural capacity to account for increased traffic loading.
- Eliminates the need for costly reinforcing materials, which are subject to corrosion, which lead to more frequent and more costly repairs.
- Properly designed and constructed HMA pavements will last 50 years or more with occasional resurfacing, relieving road agencies of the need for costly, time-consuming and disruptive reconstruction.
- HMA can be recycled (milled and replaced along with fresh materials), saving dollars and preserving nonrenewable natural resources.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Mon, Jul 13, 2009 @ 12:48 PM
Every state has committed at least half its highway stimulus funds so none will lose any of its allocation, the Obama administration said Thursday.
States had until June 29 to obligate the funds or risk losing half the leftover money. Only a month ago, some 14 states had yet to satisfy that goal. Hawaii was the last to meet the mark, hitting it on June 19.
Maine has secured 100% of its funds and 15 states have more than 80% of their money committed.
read more
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Thu, Apr 23, 2009 @ 06:33 AM
Image: Hydrograph comparison showing how porous pavement reduces peak flow and total volume of runoff
Source: Cahill Associates
Impact on groundwater
Asphalt pavements are compatible with clean water. Studies show that asphalt pavements and stockpiles of reclaimed asphalt pavement do not leach.
Contaminants on the surface of pavements tend to become part of runoff, but with a porous pavement, they are washed into the stone bed. From there they flow down into the soil, where beneficial bacteria and other natural processes cleanse them. Data are limited, but indicate a very high removal rate for total suspended solids, metals, and oil and grease.
Figure 1 shows the effect of a porous asphalt pavement on the hydrology of a developed site.
Cool cities
Porous asphalt pavements have been shown to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Open-graded asphalt roads and highways-which use the same surface material as porous parking lots-have been shown to lower nighttime surface temperatures as compared to impervious pavements. In at least one city, the hottest heat signature is at the airport, with its thick, dense, impervious runways.
Comparisons to other asphalt pavements
The surface of a porous asphalt pavement wears well. While slightly coarser than some pavements, it is attractive and acceptable. Most people driving or walking on the pavement will not notice (or believe) that it is porous.
Like all asphalt pavements, porous pavements are ADA-friendly.
Environmental applications
Asphalt pavements have been used for many years to enhance water quality. At landfills, asphalt liners and caps keep contaminants from leaking into groundwater. Drinking water reservoirs lined with asphalt pavement have been used in California since the 1950s. Salmon hatcheries and fish rearing ponds in the Pacific Northwest use asphalt liners.
Variations on the theme
Porous asphalt can be used successfully in parking lots, walkways, and playgrounds. Several current suburban projects are exploring its use in subdivision roads. A few porous highways and city streets have been constructed, both in the U.S. and in Europe, and have performed well.
The open-graded asphalt surface used for porous pavements has been used extensively to surface high-volume highways that carry heavy trucks. Its benefits include noise reduction, a decrease in splash and spray kicked up by vehicles in heavy downpours, and mitigation of the urban heat island effect.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Apr 22, 2009 @ 06:25 AM
Construction and performance
Porous asphalt pavements are fast and easy to construct. With the proper information, most asphalt plants can easily prepare the mix and general paving contractors can install it.
The stone bed, often eighteen to thirtysix inches in depth, provides a tremendous subbase for the pavement. As a result, porous asphalt pavements tend not to exhibit cracking and pothole formation problems. The surface wears well. Under the stone bed is a geotextile which keeps fine particles from moving into the stone bed from below and filling in the spaces.
Porous asphalt has been proven to last for decades, even in extreme climates, and even in areas with many freeze-thaw cycles. The underlying stone bed can also provide stormwater management for adjacent impervious areas such as roofs and roads. To achieve this, stormwater is conveyed directly into the stone bed, where perforated pipes distribute the water evenly.
Economics
Porous pavement is a sound choice on economics alone. A porous asphalt pavement surface costs approximately the same as conventional asphalt. Because porous pavement is designed to "fit into" the topography of a site, there is generally less earthwork. The underlying stone bed is usually more expensive than a conventional compacted sub-base, but this cost difference is offset by eliminating the detention basin and other components of stormwater management systems. On projects where unit costs have been compared, the porous pavement has been the less expensive option. Porous pavements are therefore attractive on both environmental and economic grounds.
An installation at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill included parking lots where some sections were constructed from porous asphalt and others used porous concrete. The cost differential was approximately 4:1 - that is, the porous concrete pavement cost four times as much as the porous asphalt pavement.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Tue, Apr 21, 2009 @ 12:49 PM
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Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Tue, Mar 10, 2009 @ 05:50 AM
Many people do not understand the use and importance of concrete curbs and gutter sections along the edges of streets, parking lots, and other pavements. The advantages of using uniform designs and standard sections are listed below.
A curb, by definition, is something that restrains; an enclosing border or edging; a raised edge or margin; a wall; or as a verb, to strengthen or confine something. As most people think of curbs, they are raised strips of concrete along the edges of streets or parking lots. The benefits of curbs have been recognized since ancient times, and stone curbs were placed along the edges of traveled ways by early civilizations. Today's concrete curbs still provide many of the same benefits, and more.
Concrete curbs or combined curbs and gutters serve several important functions. Curbs collect water from crowned pavements and convey it to points of collection, thus reducing the amount of water that gets under the pavement. They outline the edges of pavements and provide easily definable borders between traveled and untraveled surfaces. They confine pavement structures, especially if the pavements are composed of layers of materials that must be compacted in-place. Curbs help contain low speed traffic within the edges of pavements.
Besides serving the purposes listed above, curbs provide several other advantages. The neat, straight lines of curbs add to the attractiveness of parking lots and streets, and the commonly used expression "curb appeal" implies that attractiveness of adjacent properties are also enhanced by sharp demarcations between streets and lawns.
Curbs strengthen pavements. The confining of flexible pavements by concrete curbs improves compaction during construction and helps maintain the integrity of edges under traffic. The added thickness given to edges of concrete pavements by integral curbs increase strength and stiffness, reduce deflections induced by traffic loads, and therefore extends pavement life.
Curbs reduce the amount of space or right-of-way required for a street by eliminating drainage swales and their flat side slopes; curbs also reduce the lengths of driveways built from streets to homes or businesses. In some jurisdictions where both curbed and uncurbed streets are allowed by subdivision ordinances, streets with curbed sections require less dedicated right-of-way than streets without curbs, for example 50 ft for local streets with curbs, or 60 ft for local streets without curbs. The elimination of drainage swales also reduces maintenance by eliminating the cleaning of ditches, the mowing of ditch banks, and the care of culverts and their end sections that carry water under driveways.
Light reflective surfaces of concrete curbs delineate pavement edges and improve visibility for drivers at night, thus promoting safety. Where there are no concrete curbs to outline the edges of roads and streets, it is now common practice to mark the pavement edges with stripes of white paint.
Curbs improve the efficiency of street sweepers by concentrating debris for easy, mechanical pickup, as opposed to having it scattered along shoulders and drainage swales where it must be picked up by hand.
Concrete curbs have the integrity to withstand the impacts of snowplows.
A comparison of pavement sections with curbs and without curbs is shown in the figure below, illustrating the advantages in land use provided by concrete curbs. It should be noted that most of the advantages listed above pertain only to concrete curbs or concrete curbs and gutters that extend down to the bottom of pavements. Adding asphalt curbs along the edges of asphalt pavements cannot provide the confinement to improve compaction or other long-term benefits.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Fri, Mar 06, 2009 @ 05:54 AM
The benefits to consistent parking lot maintenance are clear:
- Protecting your asphalt pavement investment
- Avoiding serious liability issues to tenants, guests and customers
- Beautify the landscape and appearance
- Plus - save more than 48% over unmaintained pavement
Let's talk about Maintenance Savings and a way to free up revenue. Unmaintained (or unsealed) asphalt pavement will likely require repairs after the first two years. Furthermore, this unmaintained surface may require overlay as early as seven years, versus fifteen years for a maintained parking area.
According to a study performed by Girish C. Dubey, chairperson of the Pavement Coatings Technology Center at the University of Nevada at Reno, maintaining asphalt pavement with sealcoat every three years saves an average of $15.25 per square yard or $152,500.00 for a parking lot averaging 10,000 square yards. This translates into more than 48% in savings over unmaintained asphalt. Maintaining asphalt with sealcoat is a small expense that secures nearly 300% increase in asphalt life as well as the aforementioned maintenance cost savings.
Parking lot maintenance is most economical when consistently performed from the outset. However, it is never too late to implement a maintenance plan that will optimize your current pavement's condition and prolong its life.
So how about you save thousands by properly maintaining your asphalt pavement for years to come? It only gets worse with time if not taken care of. Call a pavement expert to find out what you can and should be doing.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Thu, Mar 05, 2009 @ 06:35 PM
A lot of people, I know not you...but many just wait till the asphalt is so damaged that it must be repaired with severe measures. Research and studies prove that you can save approximately half the cost of maintenance on your pavement if you sealcoat consistently from the outset.
The weather is going to be getting warmer soon and it will be time to look at pavement that needs attention. Asphalt repairs can be prevented by a simple pavement maintenance plan and sealcoating the asphalt every few years. Let's talk about sealcoating...but first the problem, then I'll provide the solution.
Asphalt is a combination of many materials composed in a structure that allows for weather elements (such as rain), salts, and other substances to attack and break it down. As the asphalt molecules break down, much of the original benefits - including weatherproofing - are lost. This is first observed visually by the color change in the asphalt surface:from black to brownish gray.
The rate of pavement deterioration depends upon many variables including weather or climate conditions, traffic volumes and frequency of maintenance. After the visual change in color of the asphalt surface, weather, oils and other harmful materials can significantly deteriorate the pavement surface. Oils from vehicle engines, often parked stationary for long periods of time, can cause considerable damage to an unmaintained pavement surface.
Also, further deterioration of unmaintained pavement leads to minor cracks which become wider and deeper without remedy. If these cracks are not remedied, water and other harmful substances will seep into the base and damage the pavement's load bearing capacity, ultimately causing pavement failure. The effects of this are shown in serious alligatoring, rutting, and overall pavement failure. Before long, your parking lot is riddled with cracks, potholes and drainage issues that are seemingly beyond repair.
Unmaintained asphalt shows its deterioration and damage
quickly, in as little as two years, and cracks and potholes quickly develop. Once the cracking forms, lack of proper maintenance will lead to serious liability issues caused by severe potholes and your pavement investment will be in risk of complete failure. The deterioration of unmaintained asphalt happens exponentially faster than maintained asphalt and, consequently, costs much more money over time.
The Remedy/Solution every smart property owner/manager, facility manager, and business owner is doing to keep asphalt repair expenses down to free up revenue.
Sealcoat, specifically refined coal tar, is a mixture of chemicals with a structure that does not allow destructive elements to affect its properties. This material, as a protective coat for asphalt, forms a barrier to protect against weather, salts, oils, and destructive substances that lead to pavement failure. This sealant also restores the asphalt's rich black color, dramatically improving property appearance.
Potential customers' and guests' first impression is your parking lot; a fresh, new appearance will be the best
presentation no matter your industry. By consistently protecting the asphalt pavement from deterioration and from failure, you are prolonging the life of your original asphalt by as much as eight years, or almost double the expected life of an unmaintained pavement surface, without considerable investment in an overlay or other significant remedy.
Parking lot maintenance with sealcoat usually means a three to five year cycle of sealcoating, including crackfill for developing cracks later in the pavement's life cycle, which prolongs the original pavement's life as well as ensuring the appearance of your property.
By evaluating your properties' parking lots on a
necessity basis(or better yet have an pavement expert come check it out free), all parking lot concerns could be easily amortized over three to five years - effectively eliminating your parking lot concerns.
Why go through the need for asphalt repairs every few years when you can sealcoat every few years and save up to half the cost?
What do you think?
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Tue, Feb 10, 2009 @ 06:33 PM
Potholes, bowl shaped openings that usually have raveled edges and can be up to 10 inches deep, are created
when moisture seeps into the pavement and contracts or expands, weakening the pavement; as traffic drives over
these weakened areas, it eventually crumbles and breaks away. Potholes often develop from badly cracked, or
alligatored, areas of pavement. If not repaired early on, these potholes will expand and could eventually affect the
pavement foundation.
Liability Issues
Potholes create serious liability issues in parking lot and roadway areas not only because of the potential damage
to vehicles but also because of the potential trip hazard to tenants, customers, employees and pedestrians.
Furthermore, repairing potholes before liability issues arise can avoid fraudulent and unreasonable injury
settlements. Potholes can form during any season and should be repaired immediately before worsening or
causing serious injury or other damage.
Remedy
The potholes formation means that moisture and air voids have already formed under the pavement surface,
allowing the pavement to weaken and become crumbled. This means that cutting and patching will be necessary
to repair the pothole area and the surrounding broken pavement by:
1. Cutting the area square beyond the damaged area - to ensure underlying problems that have not yet
surfaced are also corrected - with a jack hammer.
2. The broken asphalt is then excavated and the base is compact as necessary to prepare for new asphalt.
3. At least 1.5" of asphalt binder and 1.5" of asphalt topcoat are installed and compacted.
4. Edges are emulsified and sanded for proper bonding.
NOTE: Jack hammering is predominantly used because of the toothed effect on the pavement, where the newly installed sphalt fits with old asphalt in the most effective way. Saw cutting is also available upon request.