New Survey - Green Asphalt Continues to Grow

source Lisa Cleaver
Forconstructionpros.com

"For those of us in the asphalt industry, "green asphalt" technologies, such as warm mix asphalt (WMA), reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), are part of everyday life. Most asphalt contractors and producers have used these techniques and understand the benefits they bring to the table.
It seems state governments and agencies are also taking note and increasing the adoption of these sustainable technologies nationwide. According to a survey conducted by the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), about 66.7 million tons of RAP and 1.2 million tons of RAS were collected in the United States during 2011 for use in new pavements. Also, about 19% of all asphalt produced in the country that year was made using  WMA technologies.

That these technologies are gaining wider acceptance is great news for asphalt contractors, our environment, but also the bottom line. According to the survey, the use of RAP and RAS during the 2011 paving season translates to a saving of 21.2 million barrels of liquid asphalt binder, saving taxpayers some $2.2 billion.

More data from the survey:
In 2011, RAP usage reached 66.7 million tons, a 7% increase from 2010 and a 19% increase from 2009. More than 99% of asphalt pavement reclaimed from roads went back into new pavements.
98 percent of producers reported using RAP in their mixes for new construction, pavement preservation, rehabilitation, and other projects.
RAS usage also continued to climb, increasing to 1.2 million tons in 2011 — an 8% increase over 2010, and a 52.5% increase since 2009.
Since 2009, RAS usage has been reported in 36 states.
In 2011, total WMA tonnage in the U.S. was estimated at about 69 million tons, a 67% increase from 2010 and a nearly 309% increase since 2009.
Almost all WMA in the U.S. was produced using a foaming process; warm mix additive technologies accounted for a little more than 4 percent of the market

A copy of the full survey is available at asphaltpavement.org/recycling.

Of course, our industry has a long history of adapting new technologies and innovations to make a better product. John Keating, NAPA 2013 Chairman and President and COO East of Oldcastle Materials Inc., says, “While use of these technologies has increased dramatically, there is room to do more, and the asphalt pavement industry is ready to reach even higher levels of sustainability in road construction.” That we are.

http://www.asphaltpavement.org/recycling

Top Asphalt Paving Projects - In the fast lane at Indian F1 Track

India’s new Formula 1 motor racing circuit, with its tight construction tolerances, demands considerable driving skill.

More than 500 million people worldwide watched the first Formula 1 motor race in India's history.
The drivers were thrilled by the new asphalt circuit with its numerous bends and the peripheral area around the new race track at Greater Noida near the capital New Delhi, which were built by machinery from German company Vögele (a member of the Wirtgen Group).

Working with four Super 1800-2 pavers, the Vögele team helped construct the Buddh International Circuit.

“To build a perfectly level asphalt pavement for the drivers as they battle for milliseconds, contractor Oriental Structure Engineers from New Delhi used the Vögele pavers for the crushed-stone base followed by three layers of asphaltic concrete. A Big MultiPlex Ski was used to ensure perfect grade and slope control,” says Vögele.

A demanding 5.1km circuit with 16 bends, a road varying between 18m-25m in width, super-elevations up to 12% and gradients up to 10%, distinguishes this newcomer to the Formula 1 racing calendar, and demands considerable driving skill, offering optimum conditions for breathtaking overtaking manoeuvres.

Oriental’s experts opted for technology from Vögele in order to deliver top-quality paving results despite these demanding requirements. Aided by the powerful pavers, they built a two-layer crushed-stone base and paved roughly 325,000tonnes of asphalt for the circuit and its peripheral areas in the course of the project.

Read the full article..

Road Readie Paving - Barrie / Simoce County - www.roadreadiepaving.com - Our commitment is to deliver an exceptional product at a competitive cost. Road Readie Paving will take care of all of your paving needs- commercial, industrial or residential. With over 25 years of experience, you can be confident in our expertise and professionally trained staff. We will customize each project to suit your individual needs. With Road Readie Paving, you can trust that we will make your asphalt vision a reality.

The Carbon Footprint of Asphalt

Environmental consciousness is on the rise and many transportation officials are striving to make their practices and policies greener or more sustainable. But how do you measure the greenness of a pavement?

It’s all about the carbon — how, when, and whether it is counted.

This paper has examined greenhouse gas production of asphalt and concrete pavements. The tools
employed in these analyses are based on published materials from ISO 14040, VicRoads, and the Ministry
of Transportation for Ontario. In every case, the analyses show clearly that asphalt has a far lower
carbon footprint. This means that asphalt pavements are the more sustainable choice. When it comes to
roads, black is green, now and for the future.

The Carbon Footprint of Asphalt
source:Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association

Road Readie Paving has a commitment to customer satisfaction through quality workmanship, at a competitive price. Specializing in commercial, industrial, and residential asphalt projects, there are no jobs Road Readie Paving cannot do. With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area, Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. Call us today.  705-719-0074

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Intelligent Cars + Computerized Roads - The Future of Road Travel

Imagine a future in which cars are packed nose to tail while traveling at breakneck speeds. Traffic lights and lane markings will be nonexistent, as cars speed unhesitatingly through unmarked junctions and weave from one side of the road to the other with no warning.

 

And all us human beings have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. No pesky driving test or license required.

 

Is this all just inspired science fiction? Not so, according to scientists and engineers.

 

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) of the United States predicts that by 2040, 75% of all road vehicles will be driverless. While Google’s self-driving car and other such vehicles offer us a glimpse into this kind of future, some cities, eager to turn this seemingly fantastical idea into a reality, are already conducting small-scale trials of linked-up roads. 

 

While cars moving at ridiculous speeds with less than a few feet of space between them sounds like a recipe for disaster, an intelligent road network coupled with intelligent vehicles can potentially eliminate gridlock and road accidents. In this future world, traffic flow will be governed by data. Intelligent vehicles will know where they are in relation to the vehicles around them.  No longer will we have to rely on traffic lights and our faulty human senses.

 

“In the future smart intersections may not need lights,” said IEEE’s director of the Center for Intelligent System Research, Azim Eskandarian. “These intersections will very efficiently harmonize and synchronize speeds in one direction, and then the other.”

 

This vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication will allow cars to feed information to a central command center, such as their destination, the route they plan to take, and their current position. The central command will accumulate all this data across a metropolis, allowing it to plan traffic loads and optimize volume along the roads. It will then send this information back to the vehicles, so that they know when it is safe to perform specific actions, such as entering intersections, making U-turns, or maintaining speed to minimize stop-star driving. In a way, it is more complex and extremely larger version of Los Angeles’ Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control System.

 

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Road Readie Paving is your contractor of choice in Barrie and the Simcoe County area. Commercial, industrial or residential projects completed to specification and on time. Visit our website to learn more and request a free quote.

Asphalt Builds Our Communities - From Airports to Bike Paths

1. Asphalt pavement is the pavement of choice for big or small parking lots, expansive shipping yards, areas for material handling, railroad facilities, airports, etc., because it can take the weight and the punishment.
2. Between 85-90% of all runways in the USA, totalling 3,364 commercial airports, are surfaced with asphalt, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
   
3. In rebuilding the main runway at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the contractor met 100 percent of the smoothness specs.
4. Race Tracks: Of the 35 NASCAR race tracks across the country, 31 are paved with asphalt surfaces.
5. Hydraulic Structures: Fish hatcheries, drinking water reservoirs, pond linings, and canal linings count on asphalt for a long-lasting, contamination-free surface.
6. Bike Paths, Sidewalks, and Recreational Facilities: asphalt pavement is ideally suited for providing paths that are aesthetically pleasing and blend well with natural settings.
7. Industrial Applications: Even where the traffic is heaviest, such as at port container yards, timber yards, and rail transfer yards, asphalt paves the way.

Are you thinking of an asphalt paving project for your business, organization, or residence? Give Road Readie Paving a call at 705-719-0074 and we'd be pleased to discuss your project and give you a free quote.

How Asphalt is Made Video

How it's made is a great series! In this episode they take a look at hot mix asphalt and show you all the components and the process, from quarry to road.

If you have questions about your driveway or have a few landscaping projects in mind, give us a call for a FREE quote. 705-719-0074. We are pleased to serve Barrie, Simcoe County and the surrounding areas with our many years of experience and skilled employees! Visit our website for more information about Road Readie Paving or to view our photo gallery.