Jessica Lombardo | Editor-in-Chief | Asphalt Contractor The Federal Highway Administration Every Day Counts initiative added e-ticketing to their innovation acceleration program and State DOTs & asphalt production facilities have been rabidly deploying the technology. With this collaboration, the model is now being set across the country for DOTs to work with associations and contractors… Continue reading EDC-6 to Impact Asphalt Production Facilities
Category: Washington
A New Website for WSDOT and NMDOT
Visitors to the Washington State Department of Transportation's website will notice a big difference in the site's appearance. The agency debuted an all-new website design on Sunday, Nov. 7, the first major overhaul in more than 15 years. Click here to learn more about their new website. On the evening of November 16, the New… Continue reading A New Website for WSDOT and NMDOT
First National APA “Perpetual Pavement, by Conversion” Award
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) finds long-term success with perpetual pavement design in Skagit County. In 2010, a stretch of I-5 in Skagit County, Washington, was in dire need of rehabilitation. A 1993 asphalt maintenance overlay proved insufficient, suffering severe reflective cracking caused by the joints of the original underlying concrete pavement. WSDOT… Continue reading First National APA “Perpetual Pavement, by Conversion” Award
Drivers used to pay for roads. Washington is killing that idea.
Ever wonder the gas tax has not increased since 1993? Click here to find out why in this article by POLITICO. Excerpt: The reason is simple math: The gasoline tax that bankrolls the federal Highway Trust Fund is politically untouchable, leading lawmakers and presidents of both parties to balk at raising it since 1993. But… Continue reading Drivers used to pay for roads. Washington is killing that idea.
Got face masks? Make a road!
What now! Wondering what to do with those millions and millions of disposable face masks that people have been wearing during the pandemic — and then disposing of basically wherever they please? Why not make a new road? “The face masks have some amazing properties, including high tensile strengths and ductility,” Li explains. As a… Continue reading Got face masks? Make a road!
OPINION: Why smart roads are just as important as autonomous vehicles
Someday we may be constructing smart roads . . . The focus on autonomous vehicle technology should not be isolated to the car itself, but also in upgrading the actual road infrastructure. State-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) to advance smart infrastructure will not only help driverless vehicles understand the roads better, but also improve overall road… Continue reading OPINION: Why smart roads are just as important as autonomous vehicles
Electric Vehicles Are About to Be Cheaper Than Gas Cars
Many consumers, however, are left wondering whether electric cars are cheaper to drive. Washington State is by far the cheapest to run a battery-powered electric car over the 15-year life span of a vehicle. The electricity required to power the vehicle can be as much as $14,480 cheaper than fueling up a gas-powered vehicle while… Continue reading Electric Vehicles Are About to Be Cheaper Than Gas Cars
Asphalt Barrier Prevents Contaminants in the Soil from Reaching Groundwater
For the past several years, the WAPA Paving Innovation Awards have been dominated by the ever-increasing use of porous pavements. For instance, last year, street paving jobs at Gonzaga University for the City of Spokane and in Tacoma on East 40th Street took home the prizes. Porous asphalt is a favorite material for reducing the… Continue reading Asphalt Barrier Prevents Contaminants in the Soil from Reaching Groundwater
FAA Supports Airport Improvement Projects With $630m In Grants
Many airfields are constructed using asphalt pavements. It's good news to hear about the FAA's $630 million in grants. The FAA grants go to major US airports that hundreds of millions of passengers pass through each year and to minor airports that only see a few flights per day and some airports that receive essential… Continue reading FAA Supports Airport Improvement Projects With $630m In Grants
Martin Marietta Materials CEO is bullish as he expects more federal spending on roads
KEY POINTS- The Biden administration is expected to focus on infrastructure spending after a new Covid-19 stimulus bill is signed.- Martin Marietta Materials CEO Ward Nye said he welcomed the White House's efforts, which come during a booming homebuilding market. Martin Marietta Materials CEO Ward Nye was optimistic about his company's prospects on Monday as… Continue reading Martin Marietta Materials CEO is bullish as he expects more federal spending on roads