U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced a new rule that will help reduce highway noise for those living and working near major roadways.

Issued in July, the rule is the largest noise reduction ever required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the first major update to its noise abatement rules since the mid-1990s.

“Reducing the noise of traffic and highway construction improves the quality of life for people living and working in communities near major roadways and just makes sense,” said Secretary LaHood.

Increases in traffic over the last two decades – particularly in urban settings – have made higher standards necessary. The new rule creates more consistent, federal noise management standards for states to follow. Currently, there is widespread variation and no minimum standard for the reduction of road noise.

The FHWA sets impact criteria on noise levels of traffic and highway construction throughout the country. In the criteria, FHWA requires noise reduction, such as sound walls near high-volume traffic and highway construction. ...
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The Association of Modified Asphalt Producers (AMAP) is continuing its work to ensure that future generations of aspiring asphalt industry leaders have the funds needed to pursue their career goals by announcing its call for applications for the 2nd annual David R. Jones IV Scholarship award.

Developed last year, the fund provides a $1,000 scholarship to a college junior or senior majoring in a field of study related to asphalt technology, such as chemical or civil engineering and chemistry. Special preference is given to applicants with experience and interest in the overall field of asphalt technology.

The scholarship is named in memory of late asphalt industry leader David R. Jones, IV, who served in a variety of capacities in the asphalt industry, including time at the University of Texas, where he was a key member of the Asphalt Research Team responsible for Performance Graded (PG) Asphalt Binder Specification. ...
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Flexible Pavements of Ohio's "Team Asphalt" took home a trophy in June at the 2010 All-American Soap Box Derby Championship race in Columbus, Ohio.

Smooth asphalt pavements are ideal for getting these gravity-powered racers to the finish line. During the competition, a derby car can reach upwards of 30 miles per hour depending on the angle of the hill.

Children ages 8 to 17 compete in three levels. The competition teaches young people basic workmanship skills and engineering.

Damaris Markley and the rest of Team Asphalt finished 4th in the Stock Division.

The International Slurry Surfacing Association (ISSA) and the Asphalt Institute (AI) are partnering to develop and present a series of three webinars early this fall.

Topics, length and tentative dates are as follows:

Introduction to Crack Treatments with Best Practices, 90 minutes, Oct. 19
Instructors: Bryan Darling, Crafco, Inc. and Jeff Wiesman, Fahrer Asphalt Sealers

Introduction to Slurry Seal & Microsurfacing with Best Practices, 120 minutes, Oct. 26
Instructors: Barry Dunn, Viking Construction, Inc. and Pierre Peltier, Terry Asphalt Materials, Inc.

Introduction to Chip Seals coupled with Best Practices, 120 minutes, Nov. 9
Instructors: Mark Ishee, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. and Bryan Horner, E.D. Etnyre & Co.

Each of these webinars will cover the latest on these pavement preservation techniques, and each will be presented by industry experts in their respective technique.

More details and registration instructions will be announced soon on the AI and ISSA websites.

Asphalt Academy

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) has released a new position paper entitled Pavement Type Selection. Created by the APA economics team, the document outlines principles that state DOTs can use in choosing whether to use asphalt or concrete pavement for a particular roadway.

The paper discusses the design guides published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and provides a bibliography of important publications on the subject. The publication also includes a chart summarizing the life cycle cost inputs from various states and a handy checklist for agencies to use.

The 20-page publication provides a synthesis of the most important factors for consideration in pavement type selection processes. These include traffic, soil, weather, construction considerations, recycling, cost comparisons, sustainability, noise, roughness and safety. ...
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CertainTeed Corporation's roofing plant in Shreveport, La., is teaming up with a Texas paving company to recycle nearly 100 percent of manufacturing waste.

Paving the way with greener operations, CertainTeed is helping to divert approximately 15,000 tons of material from landfills each year. The waste is used by RK Hall of Texarkana to produce asphalt pavement used for highways and bridges.

"By finding an eco-friendly solution for disposing of scrap materials, the Shreveport plant is significantly reducing its environmental impact," says John Hardy, operational excellence leader for CertainTeed Roofing.

"As a result of the partnership with RK Hall of Texarkana, the plant has also reduced transportation costs — a testament that going green has both environmental and economic benefits," adds Hardy.

CertainTeed is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and plays an active role in the green building movement. For the second consecutive year, CertainTeed has been named ENERGY STAR partner of the year.

S&Y Terminal in Owensboro, Kentucky is the newest member of the Asphalt Institute.

S&Y operates a terminal for Scotty's Contracting and Yager Materials - the largest paving contractor in Kentucky.

S&Y is being welcomed as a commercial member at the Asphalt Institute summer meeting in August.

Highway users in several states are benefiting from less congestion, improved safety and greater productivity as a result of projects that were named as winners in the America's Transportation Awards Mississippi Valley, Northeast and Western regional competitions.

"This is really about showcasing the tremendous work being done across the country and about letting our legislators know at the state and federal level, what we are doing in our states," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in announcing the winners.

"It's particularly important at this time to let lawmakers know that with Recovery Act money, we are doing additional projects along with those already programmed. We're working hard and we are being accountable, and we are performing with pride," Horsley said.

Thirty four transportation projects from six mid-America, five northeastern states and 10 western states were judged in four categories: Best Recovery Act Project; On Time; Under Budget and Innovative Management. ...
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By John Davis

There are many ways asphalt storage tanks can be made more environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient through heating, insulation, annual monitoring, prudent construction and management.

Other advances include the use of greener heat transfer fluids in tank heating systems, reduced emissions into the atmosphere and the use of recycled steel for tank construction.

The grounds around asphalt storage tanks have become eco-friendly and more pleasing to the eye. We are seeing grass, shrubs, trees and flowers around asphalt tank farms. But a significant part of becoming more environmentally efficient is what we don’t see. A big part of the process for asphalt storage tanks equates to operational efficiency. Seat of the pants operations are out and careful management is in.

“There are certain things a good terminal operator will do to ensure his operation is as efficient as possible,” says Al Meitl of Asphalt Operating Services, LLC (AOS) in St. Louis.

“Terminals and asphalt storage facilities use energy, and the more energy you conserve, the more profitable you will be,” says Meitl. ...
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By Dave Johnson, P.E.

Pavement designers have traditionally attempted to create pavements that are impervious to water and air. It has long been recognized that such pavements resist premature aging from moisture damage and oxidation.

Sometimes asphalt pavements compact under traffic and consequently rut. For this reason, a design air void content of 4 percent has long been targeted to avoid these distresses. All of this gets turned on its head when the design is for a porous pavement.

Porous pavements are designed, as the name implies, to allow for the movement of water through the structure. Two principle uses for this specialty pavement are fairly common. The first application is as a surface for highways of all traffic volumes. In this configuration it is known as a porous friction course or an open-graded friction course.

The second application, and the focus of this article, is a part of an integrated stormwater management plan for a parking lot or subdivision. In this application, stormwater is allowed to infiltrate through the pavement into a single-sized stone reservoir where it will then infiltrate into the subsoil. ...
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