| Vol. 15, No. 1 |
August,
2006 |
Contents:
Workshops, Seminars and Conferences
Ohio Asphalt Summer Issue
SAFETEA-LU Shortfall
Be a PAC-Backer
Need Training?
Diamond Achievement Commendations
FPO Website Remodeled
Specification Issues Update
Employment Opportunity
Subscribe to FPO Publications
Workshops, Seminars and Conferences
The asphalt pavement industry is kicking off the conference and seminar season early. There are several educational events scheduled for yet this year with many more coming up after the first of the year. Check out the brief descriptions below and follow the web links for details:
September 12, 2006 - Warm Mix Asphalt Technologies Field Trial/Open House - See and hear about the latest technology for reducing the energy requirements for producing asphalt concrete. This workshop will be held at Salt Fork State Park Lodge, Cambridge, Ohio and includes a field trip to the demonstration paving project and the production facility. Obtain more information and register at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/events.cfm?event_ID=70.
September 13-14, 2006 - International Conference on Perpetual Pavement - Learn of the latest developments in the technology of Perpetual Pavements at this international conference being held at the Hilton Columbus Hotel at Easton. Obtain more information and register at http://www.ohio.edu/icpp/.
October 24-25, 2006 - Ohio Transportation Engineering Conference (OTEC), at the Greater Columbus (Ohio) Convention Center. There will be an extensive asphalt technology program in two break-out sessions. The asphalt sessions, occurring Tuesday the 24 th , will feature concepts for sustainable highways. Three presentations will be made. The first, "ODOT Looks at Warm Mix Asphalt", will be an overview of the Department's demonstration project constructed on SR 541 in Guernsey County. WMA is a new technology showing potential for improved pavement longevity and greater energy efficiency in the manufacturing process. The second presentation discusses the European approach to recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) management and usage. In Europe RAP plays an important role in the manufacture of quality hot mix asphalt. The final presentation, "Terminal Blended Ground Tire Rubber", describes a new process for incorporating ground tire rubber (GTR) in asphalt pavement. The presentation will discuss this new technology and provide an overview of projects constructed to date. In an earlier session on bridge deck treatments, a presentation will be made on an alternative overlay and joint material that uses a polymer modified asphalt as a dense, impermeable bridge deck waterproofing material and wearing course. Get more information and register at http://www.otecohio.org/.
October 30 - November 03, 2006 - Comprehensive Asphalt Mix Design - Flexible Pavements of Ohio is presenting another session of the mix design training necessary to obtain ODOT, Bituminous Concrete Technician, Level 3 approval. The training will take place at the ODOT central lab and will conclude with the level 3 examination. ODOT employees must register through the office of training. Register at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/events.cfm?event_ID=74. Location: Columbus, OH.
November 15, 2006 - Field Quality Control Supervisor Training - The Field Quality Control Supervisor training tentatively will occur in November, 2006; if sufficient interest and need exists. Call or e-mail the FPO office to register your interest in taking this training or submit the on-line registration form. If the workshop is further postponed or cancelled, you will be notified and no charges will be made until the workshop is firmly scheduled. Register at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/events.cfm?event_ID=65. Location: Columbus, Ohio.
Looking ahead to 2007, watch for announcements for the following:
February 7, 2007 - Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference - The Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference (OAPC) returns to the Fawcett Center at OSU in Columbus, Ohio on February 7, 2007. Mark your calendar now and watch www.flexiblepavements.org for updates on the program and registration.
March 20 - 21, 2007 - FPO, 45th Annual Meeting and Equipment Exhibition - Mark your calendars for the Flexible Pavements of Ohio 45th Annual Meeting and Equipment Exhibition returning to the Hilton Hotel at Easton.
Many other industry events are also scheduled. See: http://www.flexiblepavements.org/events.cfm for additional educational opportunities.
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Ohio Asphalt Summer Issue
Watch your mail for the Summer Issue of Ohio Asphalt Magazine coming soon. This issue will feature several articles on pavement smoothness and new challenges facing the industry because of planned ODOT specification changes. See the "Specification Issues Update" news item below. View back issues of Ohio Asphalt magazine at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/ohio_mag.cfm.
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SAFETEA-LU Shortfall
If you listen to the statements being made by the various state transportation departments, you realize that the initial enthusiasm for the increased Federal transportation funding included in SAFETEA-LU is rapidly evaporating. ODOT has stated that the rapid increase in construction costs caused by energy prices is negating the anticipated funding increases in SAFETEA-LU. (See ODOT's statement at http://odotoutlook.dot.state.oh.us/).
NAPA's Action News reports "The Bush administration's annual "mid-session" budget review released July 11 predicts that the highway account of the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money before SAFETEA-LU expires. Additional revenues into the account were anticipated due to increased commercial truck taxes which make up about 6 percent of Highway Trust Fund receipts. Last February, the administration forecasted the highway account to be in the red by $2.3 billion in 2009. The new projection shows $1.7 billion in new revenues through 2009, bringing the highway account in the red by $600 million at that time.
Congress isn't expected to pass an appropriation bill for 2007 until after the November elections, necessitating a continuing resolution to keep highway programs going after the current fiscal year ends on September 30th. Perhaps there will some action to address the funding shortfalls at that time.
For more information on SAFETEA-LU visit the websites of the:
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Be a PAC-Backer
This is a season of intense political activity with the upcoming Ohio gubernatorial and legislative elections coming up in November of this year. The Flexible Pavements of Ohio PAC is the entity that seeks to ensure that the concerns of the asphalt industry are heard by the candidates. The FPO PAC needs the financial support of individuals to be effective. If you make your living through employment in the asphalt industry, you should consider supporting the FPO PAC with your personal contribution. Your companies are prohibited by law from contributing to this PAC fund. Only personal checks made payable to the FPO PAC can be accepted. Contact the FPO office if you need more information.
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Need Training?
The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) and Pavia Systems have launched a brand-new program of online training specifically designed for the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) industry. This program enables organizations to conveniently deliver a comprehensive array of learning opportunities on asphalt pavement materials, methods, and practices through the Internet. The new learning tools make cost-effective, high-quality training programs available quickly and easily throughout the organization. View the training offerings at http://www.paviasystems.com/.
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Diamond Achievement Commendations
FPO member companies have been busy renewing their Diamond Achievement Commendations for 2006.
Barrett Paving has renewed 9 of their plants: Fairborn, Moraine, Sidney, Carthage, Cleves, Fairfield, Mason, Newtown and Reading.
Shelly and Sands has renewed their Mar-Zane #13, #23, #2 and #9 plants.
Valley Asphalt has renewed plants #9, 14 and 23.
We extend our congratulations to these companies for demonstrating their commitment to operating their plants in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
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FPO Website Remodeled
The award-winning website of Flexible Pavements of Ohio (see the story at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/showpressrelease.cfm?press_ID=10) has received another, minor remodeling. This time the look and functionality remains the same as that achieved in the major overhaul of 2004-5, but menus have been streamlined, content updated and new pages and features added.
As before, the calendar page always has the latest list of upcoming educational opportunities and industry events.
A new page has been added under Education/Training that catalogs presentations from FPO conferences: http://www.flexiblepavements.org/conference_presentations.cfm.
If you need information on asphalt pavement www.flexiblepavements.org should be the first place you check.
We thank the McLean Company for their sponsorship of the FPO website. Other advertising opportunities are available on the FPO website. See http://www.flexiblepavements.org/advertising.cfm or contact FPO or TRIAD for information.
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Specification Issues Update
Spurred on by their Strategic Initiative 5, the Ohio DoT has embarked on an effort to improve the quality of nighttime paving on Ohio's roadways. Recently, ODOT crafted specifications calling for the use of material transfer devices on surface courses, minimum lighting requirements for paving equipment, binder for joint sealing, and mandatory use of incentive/disincentive smoothness specifications. The latest versions the Proposal Notes and Supplemental Specifications can be found at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/construction/OCA/Specs/SSandPN2005/default2005.htm.
An ODOT goal is to improve ride quality by ensuring uniform pavement texture. To accomplish this ODOT will call upon material transfer devices to convey asphalt mix from haul trucks to the paver hopper. MTDs are required to have remixing capability to ensure that segregation induced through hauling is eliminated. The requirement is waived for projects less than 1 mile in length. (See PN 461, Night Paving using Material Transfer Device).
Lighting requirements have been set to ensure sufficient visibility exists to detect mat condition. Requirements say to provide an illuminated zone of at least 5 Foot-candles (55 lux) of lighting luminance in the immediate vicinity of pavers, rollers, grinding equipment, material transfer vehicles etc and at least 1 Foot-candle (10 lux) at 25 feet from this equipment. Provide an illuminated zone of at least 5 Foot-candles (55 lux) of lighting luminance in the immediate vicinity of coring equipment and at least 1 Foot-candle (10 lux) at 10 feet. Position the light sources so they don't interfere with or impede traffic in any direction and do not cause glare for motorists or point onto adjacent properties. Also, a photometer capable of measuring the level of luminance on each night project must be furnished by the contractor. (See PN 462, Night Paving - Work Site Lighting Requirements).
To improve longitudinal joint construction of nighttime projects a heavy coat (0.25 gal. per sy) of PG binder will be used to seal all cold longitudinal construction joints. The entire face of the joint must be covered including a ½-inch overlap of the joint edges. (See PN 460, Night Paving, 401.17 Sealing of Cold Joints).
Incentive/disincentive smoothness specifications will be required on all night paving projects for pavements with legal speeds greater than 40 mph and otherwise practicable. For overlays greater than 2 ¼ inches the traditional smoothness specification will be used (PN 420, Surface Smoothness Requirements for Pavements). The "Thin Lift" specification will be used for overlays of lesser thickness. (PN 470, Night Paving, Thin Lift Asphalt Smoothness). New to these notes is the use of International Roughness Index (IRI) as the smoothness measuring stick. IRI has the potential to improve asphalt pavement ride quality even beyond its current high level. Be sure to catch the articles on IRI and smoothness in the next issue of Ohio Asphalt magazine.
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Employment Opportunity
Flexible Pavements of Ohio is seeking to fill the position of Pavements and Materials Engineer. The Pavements and Materials Engineer provides the FPO membership with technical assistance; represents the interests of the industry before ODOT, OEPA, and various other federal, state and local government agencies; assists pavement owners in the development of HMA specifications and facilitates the development of new materials and specifications; facilitates member involvement in FPO through communication of issues between the membership and agencies regarding paving materials, paving techniques, paving specifications, environmental regulations, etc.; represents the interests of the membership on affiliated industry committees and associations such as OTEC, ASHE, ASCE, etc.; develops training curriculum and provides instruction; assists in the development of technical and/or promotional publications.
Among other qualifications the person applying for this position must be an engineer registered in the State of Ohio. It is intended that this person will be on-board on or before March 31 st , 2007. Interested persons can send their resume' to Clifford Ursich, PE and reference Pavement and Materials Engineer position, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, P.O. Box 16186, Columbus, Ohio, 43216. Electronic submissions can be made to cliffursich@flexiblepavements.org. Information received will be treated in a confidential manner.
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Are you on our mailing list?
If you received this directly from FPO, you are. But, if this was forwarded to you by a colleague, you may wish to subscribe yourself. In addition to this e-news letter, FPO publishes a quarterly magazine, Ohio Asphalt . To add your address to the distribution lists for the e-news letter and/or the magazine, send a request with your address information to flexpave@ameritech.net or use the request form on the website at http://www.flexiblepavements.org/sign_up_news.cfm.
This E-mail newsletter is distributed by opt-in only, by Flexible Pavements of Ohio. To be included on the distribution you must have requested to be included. Conversely, if you wish to be removed from this distribution, just let us know at flexpave@ameritech.net.
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