source:
Ontario Hot Mix Producers Association
Ontario rides on approximately 200,000 kilometres of paved roads, which are a part of a nearly $80 billion total infrastructure network. Our economy, public safety and environment depend on how we maintain this vital asset.
Asphalt paving is the sustainable and superior way to build upon and maintain Ontario’s roadways. It is one of the most versatile construction materials and is also used for airport runways, parking lots and driveways. There are several good reasons why 95 percent of Ontario’s roads are paved with asphalt.
Asphalt is North America’s most recycled material, more than aluminum, paper or plastic. Four out of every five tonnes of asphalt pavement removed for widening and resurfacing projects are reused. Reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) greatly reduces the amount of virgin asphalt cement needed to construct new roadways. Asphalt is easily recyclable because little additional energy is required to recapture the raw materials. When we pave with asphalt, we put aggregate and asphalt cement resources in the bank” to be used by future generations.
Asphalt pavements do not leach toxins. Drinking water reservoirs are often lined with asphalt and asphalt cement is used to line water pipes that supply potable municipal water. Landfills are frequently lined and capped with asphalt and some natural resource and wildlife agencies use asphalt pavement to line fish ponds.
Asphalt pavement designs are tied directly to anticipated traffic volume and vehicle weight. Altogether, Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavements can handle the toughest traffic. Additionally, HMA pavements require only periodic surface restoration, providing a smooth, durable pavement for decades. Maintenance is quick, cost-effective and less disruptive than with Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavements.
Paving with asphalt significantly reduces the amount of time spent on road construction projects because it eliminates the need for the long curing period required when paving with PCC pavements.
The cost of keeping motorists stuck in traffic during construction, known in the industry as user delay cost, should be considered in any analysis of lifecycle cost. When paving with asphalt, rehabilitation work can take place during off-peak hours, nights and weekends, allowing for quick, costeffective maintenance. Choosing asphalt pavement saves everyone time; less time spent in traffic delays helps to increase overall productivity, which equals dollars saved.
Choosing asphalt for paving projects allows for more competitive bidding because of the ample number of asphalt plants and crews located in each Ontarioregion. Our large market share throughout the province makes materials easily accessible, in any location, which provides easy access for construction. We have the resources, expertise and the labour to get the job done right, at the right price.
Stage construction of asphalt pavements allows for successive layers to be added as needed. This process provides a way to easily strengthen the pavement over time to handle increased load carrying
capacity requirements. Perpetual asphalt pavement combines the well-documented smoothness and safety advantages ofasphalt with an advanced, multi-layer paving design process. With routine maintenance, perpetual pavement extends the life of a roadway to half a century or more. Pavements designed and constructed in this manner will last for generations.
One hundred percent of Ontario experiences inclement weather. This fact makes skid resistance on roads paramount to public safety. The drainage capability and precision in aggregate mix play a vital role in making asphalt the superior choice when considering the importance of tire grip in relation to road safety. New porous asphalt mixes disperse surface water, which reduce blinding spray and help to decrease the risk of aquaplaning. The contrast in colour between asphalt pavement and road markers provides drivers with better road visibility in any weather condition, day or night.
Snow removal is not problematic on asphalt pavements. Unlike concrete pavements, there are no joints for plough blades to catch on when ploughing asphalt pavements. Additionally, asphalt pavements tend to move less in winter conditions due to the greater thickness of nonfrost susceptible material beneath them. Snow also melts faster on asphalt and the pavement surface is not damaged by ice-melting chemicals.
Smooth, flexible pavements constructed from HMA stand up to the punishment of heavy trucks and other vehicles, significantly reducing initial and total costs over the entire life cycle of a road. At the same time, the smoothness of asphalt pavements reduces wear and tear on all vehicles, saving on maintenance costs. Smoothness has an impact on fuel economy. In 2007, Applied Research Associates reviewed a database from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation containing over 35 years’ worth of biannual pavement condition surveys. Their report found that asphalt pavements are much smoother initially and remain smoother over their lifetime when compared to concrete pavements. Vehicles travelling on smooth pavements consume up to 4.5 percent less fuel than when travelling on rough pavements. Asphalt pavements start out smooth and stay smooth over the long haul.
Asphalt pavement is the strong silent type. A standard asphalt surface produces about 50 percent less noise than a concrete surface. Highway noise is greatly reduced when paved with asphalt. Paving with asphalt also reduces the need to build expensive sound absorbing walls. Go to
www.quietpavement.com for more information about the noise reduction qualities of asphalt pavements.
The first record of asphalt being used in road building occurred in ancient Babylon in 625 B.C. Centuries later, in 1915, Canada’s first asphalt paved roads were built in Ottawa, Ontario and Edmonton, Jasper and Camrose, Alberta. Throughout the millennia, asphalt has paved the way for better roads and infrastructure for civilizations across the globe. Asphalt’s long record of success makes it the time-tested, wise choice for paving.
With over 30 years of experience serving the Barrie and Simcoe area,
Road Readie Paving has built a reputation second to none. If you are needing asphalt for you next construction project, call Road Readie Paving for a free quote. 705-719-0074
