Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Jul 21, 2010 @ 02:29 PM
I just want to share a video I came across on Youtube today. What do you think about turning our roads into a power grid? This idea would create jobs and no doubt improve the roads we are driving on.
Click here to watch this asphalt solar road video on Youtube. Let me know your thoughts. Would you vote for this?
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 Thu, Oct 15, 2009 @ 11:10 AM
Cracking Repairable with Sealant or Fill
Asphalt cracks that form in the pavement surface can allow many harmful substances - including water, salts and engine oils - into the base and subgrade, effectively leading to the failure of the pavement surface. There are many types of asphalt cracking and many causes for these differing problems. In many cases, cracks develop because of the expansion or contraction of the base or subgrade or because of voids that form between the layers or courses of pavement. These cracks can form randomly or in the following specific forms. In all cases, if repaired while still within ¼" to ½", these cracks are easily repaired and maintained.
Transverse cracking
Transverse cracking, or cracks that occur across the pavement surface about perpendicular to the parking lot center, are often caused by the asphalt expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and or this movement due to asphalt aging. Initially, these cracks will be relatively equally spaced depending on traffic but will eventually become more prevalent in the parking lot or roadway. In some cases, as these cracks become more prevalent, block cracking forms where the Transverse cracks develop into squares throughout the pavement.
Also, these cracks may extend either entirely or partially across the pavement area or roadway.
Transverse cracks begin as "hairline" cracks - or cracks up to ¼" wide - but will widen to ½" or wider with age and lack of proper repair. Because these cracks are allowing water into the pavement base and subgrade, lack of proper asphalt repair or maintenance will lead to more cracks developing parallel to the original transverse cracking. If not properly repaired, these transverse asphalt cracks will be appear with greater prevalence and the cracks will become wider; eventually, the cracks will be so prevalent that entire areas will be broken or "alligatored" (see Alligatoring section) leading to a more serious, cutting and patching asphalt repair.
Next we'll cover longitudinal asphalt cracking...
Source: U.S.Pavement Services
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 Sat, Aug 15, 2009 @ 08:29 AM
There are many reasons to use asphalt for your pavement surface. One of the reasons is its cost effectiveness, which right now is a great reason to use asphalt. Often asphalt is 1/2 or 1/3 less than Concrete.
Today's Hot Mix Asphalt is a high-tech product that can withstand enormous traffic loads ranging from 18-wheelers to commercial airliners. It is a highly versatile product that can be used for many applications-from Interstate highways to airport runways, parking lots, bicycle trails, and private driveways.
There are seven reasons why most engineers who have closely studied the new high-performance asphalt are convinced that it should be the pavement of choice for designers of future roadways...
Click here to read the 7 reasons.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Fri, Aug 14, 2009 @ 07:24 AM
1. A well-surfaced and striped asphalt parking area demonstrates your care for overall safety and aesthetics of your property. Maintaining a healthy parking area attracts and retains tenants and customers.
2. Sound maintenance of asphalt extends the life of a parking facility, decreasing your overall repair costs and improving the return on the investment of your property. Just as the exterior of a building or any painted surface needs preventative maintenance to prolong its life and reduce the cost of ownership the same is true with asphalt.
3. The constant weight of a parked or slow moving vehicle is greater than a faster moving vehicle. Stresses placed on asphalt in parking lots often exceed the loads experienced on highways and streets. Stay educated about distress signals and take appropriate remedial action.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Wed, Aug 12, 2009 @ 04:57 PM
Pavement Markings Issues
Pavement marking effectiveness is based mostly on the durability and the visibility of the markings. Durability is
usually tracked by the simple amount of material remaining on the pavement surface over time, but can be more
scientifically tracked by measuring the bond strength of the material to the surface. Visibility related mostly to the
brightness and reflective nature of the material. Glass beads mixed into the pavement marking traffic grade paint
can add to the visibility by greatly increasing the material's retro-reflection characteristics.
Fading
Faded pavement markings and parking stall lines make these important traffic control devices invisible to
customers, tenants and other motorists, leading to potentially dangerous outcomes. Arrows, stop bars, and other
traffic control markings ensure the proper flow of traffic and optimize customer flow in and out of parking lots. Fire
lanes, curbing and no parking zones ensure that vehicles will not be parked in important areas and potentially
block emergency response vehicles. Furthermore, faded parking lines lead to insufficient use of parking lot space
and leading to less customer and tenant parking than the parking lot space will allow, including accessible parking
spaces.
Pavement Markings on Fresh Sealcoat
Although thermoplastic paint are the ideal type of pavement marking on sealcoated surfaces, water-based or
latex-based paints are far more economically feasible relative to their durability and visibility. Water-based or
latex-based traffic grade paints must be applied, however, after the sealcoat has properly cured; this curing can
take as little as a few hours depending on sun exposure, humidity, traffic conditions and other variables. If
sufficient curing time is not allowed for the sealcoat, traffic grade paint will being to "bleed" and discolored.
Furthermore, excess traffic on fresh sealcoat will also "scar" the pavement markings with tacky sealcoat that has
come onto vehicle tires and is tracked onto fresh pavement markings. All of these potential issues can be
avoided by allowing sealcoat proper dry times before applying pavement markings.
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 Sun, May 31, 2009 @ 05:30 AM
Edgelines
Pavement edgeline markings give drivers a guide to the
edge of the pavement and also enhance safety. A study
of rural highways in Kansas showed that edgelines will
yield benefits exceeding their costs if an average of one
non-intersection crash occurs annually every 15.5 miles
of roadway. Edgelines are a particularly valuable visual
reference during bad weather and poor visibility, especially
along curves. They can also be used to mark the
pavement edge to reduce driving on paved or unpaved
shoulders. Break edgelines for intersections, major
driveways or interchanges. Continue edgelines through
minor driveways unless a full width turn lane has been
provided. Wide solid edgeline markings may be used
for greater emphasis.
Required (shall)
• Rural arterials 20' or more in width and 6000 vehicles
per day or more.
• Freeways and expressways.
Recommended (should)
• Rural arterials and collectors 20' or more in width
and 3000 vehicles per day or more.
Optional (may)
• Other paved streets based on engineering study.
Channelizing lines
Channelizing lines can be used to form channelizing
islands where traffic is going in the same direction on
either side of the island. They shall be a wide or double
wide solid white line. White diagonals or chevron marking
can be placed between the channelizing lines for
greater emphasis.
Yield lines
Yield lines are white and shall
consist of a row of solid white
isosceles triangles pointing
toward approaching traffic.
They are not required, but
may be helpful at roundabouts,
mid-block crosswalks, or other
locations with yield signs.
Stop lines
Stop lines are solid white lines and should be 12"-24"
wide. Stop lines emphasize the stop condition and
indicate where to stop. They are not required, but are
helpful in many situations. For example, visibility may
be better at a point closer to the intersection than the
stop sign can be placed. The stop line can be used to
show this to drivers. Stop lines should be a minimum of
4' in advance of a marked crosswalk. Do not use stop
lines with yield signs. Place no closer than 4' from the
nearest edge of the intersecting travel way and no more
than 30'.
Posted by Jesse Willoughby on Fri, May 29, 2009 @ 06:25 AM
Many materials can be used for pavement marking. The choice depends on cost, durability, retroreflectivity, pavement surface, and drying time.
Paint Water-based paint, applied either cold or hot, is the most commonly used pavement marking. It is low cost with a short drying time, but its visibility on wet nights is just moderate. Traffic and snow plowing wear it away in about a year. Oil-based (alkyd) paint, when used, must meet environmental air quality restrictions
on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
Thermoplastics These pavement-marking materials are made of thermoplastic heated to about 400° F and spread onto the pavement surface. Glass beads to increase reflections can be spread on top, mixed in, or both. Thermoplastics have a long service life, good visibility, and good retroreflectivity. The no-track time is short, and cost is mid-range. Special application equipment is required.
Epoxy Also applied as a liquid with special equipment, epoxy has good visibility and retroreflectivity, and cost is moderate. No-track time is 5-20 minutes. Markings last 3 to 4 years.
Tapes Pre-formed tape can be either inlaid as part of new construction, or overlaid. It has excellent visibility and retroreflectivity and lasts 7-8 years, but is higher cost. Wet reflective tape has excellent wet night retroreflectivity with about a 4-year life. Cost is medium and durability is poor. Modifications are being made to produce a tape with both durability and wet night
retroreflective quality.
Markings that must be visible at night shall be retroreflective. In general this applies to all pavement markings except parking lines and curb markings. For paint, glass beads are mixed in or dropped on the markings while still wet. Durable products are made with reflecting materials. In pedestrian areas, marking materials should not create slipping or tripping hazards.
Raised pavement markers can be useful to supplement pavement marking, but cost is a factor, and they must be correctly installed. Wet reflective tape is another supplement option.