ASPHALT PLUS CASE STUDY:

STATE ROUTE 57, WRIGHTSVILLE, GA

GA Route 57 is a heavily traveled highway in central GA. The roadway is located in a subtropical climate where stripping and rutting are significant issues for asphalt road construction. The region is exposed to extended periods of higher temperatures, humidity and rainfall.

 dry mix asphalt georgia - case study

GA Route 57 near Wrightsville, GA

 

GA DOT contracted for an experimental project on the use of elevated levels of RAP in asphalt in 2008. RAP percentages have been limited to 20-25% due to over-stiffening of the asphalt product. In this project, the DOT combined 40% RAP with 5% dry mix additions. The additives were combined in a 1.5” milled overlay of dense graded hot mix asphalt.

 

The mix design utilized 10 lbs of ASTM minus 30 crumb rubber and a 64,-22 PG rated binder. After rubber addition, the PG rating improved to an average in excess of 80, -22. The road surface was installed without incident, and both plant and road production crews noted that the process was straightforward, forgiving and simple to implement.

 

During placement, the CRM asphalt did not exhibit any of the stickiness typically found with other rubber addition processes. The hot mix product was placed and compacted with ease. Rutting and compaction evaluations of the plant production exhibited excellent results.

 

After six years of service, no evidence of unusual substrate or surface cracking has been noted to date. More importantly, high RAP applications without dry mix rubber placed in the same time period are showing significant amounts of longitudinal cracking. Product performance led to a state specification of dry mix asphalt in GA.

rubber asphalt georgia - dry mix asphalt - map

GA Interstate and Highway Projects, 2006 – 2013