The National Asphalt Pavement Association, a CalAPA partner, recently announced the publication of an update to a popular reference work titled, "Guidelines for the Use of Asphalt Overlays to Rehabilitate PCC Pavements" (IS-117). The publication is available as a free download HERE.

The 41-page report is a collaborative effort between NAPA and the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University. It's lead authors are Adriana Vargas-Nordcbeck, Ph.D., and Nam H. Tran, Ph.D., PE, LEED GA.

The report, citing Federal Highway Administration data, notes that approximately two-thirds of concrete pavements in the United States have been overlaid with asphalt. "Many agencies choose asphalt overlays because they are usually more economical and require less construction time than the other alternatives," the report states. "Asphalt overlays can improve the existing PCC pavement's functional and structural conditions by restoring the surface, improving rideability, and increasing load-carrying capacity." The report addresses the issue of the potential for reflection cracking caused by the PCC joints, and examines mitigation measures.

CalAPA members support important research and the development of reference works such as this via contributions to national pooled funds, including the Pavement Economics Committee fund and supporting the national Asphalt Pavement Alliance. The Asphalt Pavement Alliance website of resources is HERE.

Recently Scott Dmytrow with new CalAPA associate member PavementACES consulting delivered a comprehensive presentation on pavement preservation to a Women of Asphalt California Branch webinar attended by more than 50 people. The interactive presentation was very well received.

The group is back organizing another interactive virtual event, a book club discussion, scheduled for Wednesday, March 6 from 11 a.m. to noon. The topic of the discussion will be the Brene Brown No. 1 New York Times best-selling book, "Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts." Brown is a charismatic advocate for "developing brave leaders and courageous cultures." She defines a leader as "anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential."

The event is free, but advanced registration is required. To sign up to receive the log-in information for the Women of Asphalt California Branch Book Club event, click HERE. Information about Brown's book can be found HERE.

To learn more about the Women of Asphalt California Branch chapter, click HERE.

Past CalAPA Chairman Jeff Reed with the George Reed Co. / VSS International was honored last week in Sacramento with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions to the asphalt and pavement preservation industries.

The award was presented during the Western Regional Association for Pavement Preservation conference at the Holiday Inn in downtown Sacramento. Numerous CalAPA members and agency partners were in attendance. Reed (pictured at a past CalAPA event speaking to former Caltrans Director Will Kempton) was later feted with a dinner put on by his employees.

The company later posted on social media, "VSS International, Inc. would like to congratulate our owner, President and CEO, Jeff Reed, as this year’s Western Regional Association for Pavement Preservation’s Lifetime Achievement award! We were all honored to be part of the celebration! Well deserved!"

CalAPA's enormously popular asphalt training classes are back on the schedule this Spring, with in-person classes scheduled for Northern California, Southern California and convenient on-line options. To view CalAPA's on-line calendar of all upcoming association classes and events click HERE.

On Wednesday, March 6 from 8 a.m. to noon, CalAPA's "Asphalt Pavement 101" class will be held in person at the DoubleTree Hotel, 222 N. Vineyard Ave. in Ontario. The class is a day prior to the Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo at the same location. Details about the conference (separate registration required) can be found HERE.

The "Asphalt Pavement 101" class, taught by former CalAPA and Asphalt Institute executive Roger Smith, who also was a senior materials engineer for Caltrans, covers all the basics about asphalt pavements, from planning, design, materials, testing, construction and acceptance. Because so much is changing in the world of asphalt, the class is continuously being updated and is an appropriate refresher class for experienced personnel as well as those new to the industry. Registration for the March 6 class is HERE.

The "Asphalt Pavement 101" class will be repeated on Wednesday, April 24 from 8 a.m. to noon at CalAPA's offices at 1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 120 in West Sacramento. For those who cannot attend the class in person, this class will have an on-line option. The registration page for the April 24 class is HERE.

Returning to the schedule is another popular CalAPA class, "Quality Asphalt Paving," which will be held Thursday, April 25 from 8 a.m. to noon at CalAPA's offices at 1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 120 in West Sacramento. For those who cannot attend in person, this class will also be streamed live so that people can attend remotely. The class is taught by veteran paving boss Pete Lambert, who has personally supervised the placement of millions of tons of asphalt on large and small projects all around Northern California. Lambert was mentored by longtime CalAPA trainer, paving company owner and fabled outdoorsman Skip Brown. Details and on-line registration for the April 25 "Quality Asphalt Paving" class is HERE.

Back by popular demand, CalAPA will also hold "Asphalt Forensics," an on-line class scheduled for Tuesday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to noon. The class is taught by Tim Murphy, president of Murphy Pavement Technology, Inc., and covers the challenges inherent in asphalt pavement design and construction, with recommendations on how to overcome those challenges. There will be a heavy emphasis on understanding why asphalt pavements can fail so that the proper remedy can be applied. Murphy provides a step-by-step approach to pavement forensics, and there is also a heavy emphasis on audience participation. Details and registration for the April 23 "Asphalt Forensics" class is HERE.

All attendees to CalAPA classes will receive a valuable reference book as well as a certificate of completion suitable for framing. Refreshments will be provided for in-person attendees. For those attending remotely, refreshments are on your own (although alcohol is strongly discouraged). Classes may satisfy professional development requirements for registered engineers or geologists. See registration page for details.

Classes also help satisfy the core training class requirements to achieve the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate," the gold standard for asphalt paving in California. Details about that program can be found HERE. More about CalAPA's technical training mission can be found HERE.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

ALLIGATOR CRACKING: A series of interconnecting cracks in an asphalt pavement surface forming a pattern that resembles an alligator’s hide or chicken wire. In its early stages, alligator cracking may be characterized by a single longitudinal crack in the wheel path (Alligator A Cracking). The cracks indicate fatigue failure of the surface layer generally caused by repeated traffic loadings. Hence, the term fatigue cracking is also used.

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

AFTER PROJECT COMPLETION: When working on a parking lot, if scheduling permits, allow the pavement 2-3 weeks to cure before final parking lot striping is added. Schedule a walkthrough with the owner on the completed project to ensure satisfaction with the workmanship and finished product.

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE.

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE: Balancing environmental, economic, and social impacts.

"Work together. Win together."

– Katie Harbaugh

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®