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Archive for the ‘Asphalt and the Environment’ Category

Asphalt Education: The Incredible World of Asphalt Pavement

Friday, August 17th, 2012

The American dream would not be possible without asphalt. It is one of the building blocks of America. In fact, 94% of the more than 2 million miles of paved roads and highways in the United States are paved using asphalt.

Other Interesting Asphalt Facts and Statistics

  • There are about 4,000 asphalt plants nationwide.
  • There is at least one asphalt plant in each congressional district.
  • Asphalt plants produce 500-550 million tons of asphalt pavements annually.
  • Asphalt plants produce in excess of $30 billion in asphalt annually.
  • The asphalt industry employs more than 300,000 Americans.
  • Asphalt pavement is composed of about 95 percent stone, sand, and gravel by weight, and about 5 percent asphalt cement, a petroleum product.
  • Asphalt is America’s most recycled material.
  • Asphalt is the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly pavement.
  • Between 1960 and 1999, while production of asphalt pavement material increased by 250 percent, total emissions decreased by 97%.
  • Asphalt pavements require about 20 percent less energy to produce and construct than other pavements.

The Benefits of Asphalt Pavement

  • Asphalt perpetual pavement is built to be maintained, lasting virtually forever with routine maintenance, periodic milling and overlaying.
  • A smooth ride is not only beneficial for comfort reasons, but studies have shown that smooth pavement has a huge effect on fuel economy. And with today’s economy, fuel efficiency is a huge concern! Oh, and did we mention that smoother pavements also last longer? Studies show that improving pavement smoothness by 25 percent results in almost a 10 percent increase in pavement longevity.
  • Asphalt greatly reduces the amount of noise pollution produced by motorists.
  • Paving with asphalt greatly reduces construction times. And for anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic because of roadwork, this is a big deal!
  • With asphalt, maintenance is quick, easy, and cost effective.

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Pavement or if you have a project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Can Asphalt be Recycled? My Pavement Guy Answers Frequently Asked Questions

Friday, July 13th, 2012

Not only can asphalt be recycled, but it is America’s most recycled and reused material, with about 70 million tons of asphalt pavement material being reclaimed! In fact, asphalt is being recycled and reused at a rate over 99 percent, which is amazing, especially when you consider that 94% of the paved roads in America are surfaced with asphalt.

A study conducted by the National Asphalt Pavement Association – titled Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010 (NAPA Information Series 138) – examined the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), and warm-mix asphalt (WMA) between 2009 and 2010. The report found that RAP, RAS, and WMA…

  1. Conserve raw materials
  2. Conserve energy
  3. Cut emissions from production and paving operations
  4. Improve conditions for workers

To view/download the full report Asphalt Pavement Mix Production Survey: 2009-2010, click here.

More Facts about Asphalt and the Environment

  • Between 1960 and 1999, while production of asphalt pavement material increased by 250 percent, total emissions from our operations decreased by 97%.
  • Asphalt is an environmentally sustainable pavement.
  • Once constructed, asphalt pavements have minimal impact on the environment. Studies show that asphalt pavements and stockpiles of reclaimed asphalt pavement do not leach.
  • Asphalt and the processes used to produce asphalt are green.
  • Asphalt pavements require about 20 percent less energy to produce and construct than other pavements.
  • Porous asphalt pavements offer a tool for storm water management with both environmental and economic benefits.
  • Warm-mix asphalt reduces fuel consumption, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances the quality of pavement.
  • Porous asphalt pavements have been shown to lower nighttime surface temperatures as compared to impervious pavements.
  • Asphalt pavements are faster to construct and rehabilitate.

If you have any further questions about Recycled Asphalt or if you have a project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of Maryland, DC, and Virginia pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Crack Sealing: An indispensable pavement protection procedure

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

There is no argument that all asphalt cement (AC) pavements crack. Cracks in asphalt pavements are inevitable. Neglect and lack of proper maintenance lead to accelerated cracking and/or potholing, further reducing the serviceability of the pavement. There are numerous reasons, which can be broadly categorized, in four distinct classes.

  • Pavement Construction: Examples in this category include flaws in the selection of the right type of asphalt mix, poor mix design, engineering defects, unsuitable ambient conditions, etc. If all of these factors meet design criteria, bpoor workmanship may be considered as a cause for premature failure of the pavement.
  • Traffic Frequency & Load: Fatigue cracking and rutting are the two principal considerations in the pavement design process because they are the primary mode of deterioration of asphalt pavements.
  • Deterioration of the asphalt cement binder, primarily due to weathering under the degrading effects of ultraviolet radiation.
  • Climatic conditions, and pavement expansion and contractions due to temperature variations, and freeze thaw cycles.

Once cracks develop, water easily penetrates into the base and sub-base of the pavement and damages the structural integrity of the aggregate materials. Pavement joint and crack sealants are designed to protect the pavement by minimizing water infiltration and by preventing the accumulation of debris. It has been amply demonstrated and documented that sealing cracks in flexible pavements is a sound preventive maintenance procedure, which adds many years to the life of the pavement, especially when used in conjunction with other preventive techniques such as slurry seal, chip seals and sealcoating.

  • Crack sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to prolong the pavement life, as much as 3- 8 years.

To help prolong, improve or replace the pavement in your world, contact the experts!

If you have any further questions about Asphalt Crack Sealing or have a project that you need completed, then contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today! The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need.

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Perpetual Asphalt: Asphalt for Performance

Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

With perpetual pavements, asphalt pavements last longer. This means that your investment will last longer. And who doesn’t like a good investment?

Perpetual asphalt is constructed so that distress occurs on the top layer only, protecting the rest of the pavement. This means that the only rehabilitation required is the removal of the surface and resurfacing with an asphalt overlay. And with current pavement technologies, this only has to be done every 15 to 20 years.

Benefits of Perpetual Asphalt

Durability: Perpetual asphalt has an extremely long lifespan. These pavements require minimal maintenance and no full-depth reconstruction.

Rubblization: The concrete pavement is left in place, rubblized (fractured), and used as the base for a new Perpetual Pavement. This is beneficial for several reasons, including:

•      It is environmentally friendly

•      It saves money

•      It is incredibly fast to construct and rehabilitate

•      It cuts down on road repair time

Safety: Smooth asphalt roads give vehicle tires superior contact with the road.

Noise Reduction: Noise reductions of 3 to 10 dB(a) are common. Reducing noise by 3 dB(a) is about the same as doubling the distance from the road to the listener, or reducing traffic volume by 50 percent.

Fuel Efficiency: Studies at a pavement test track in Nevada have shown that driving on smoother surfaces can reduce fuel consumption by 4.5 percent.

Perpetual Pavement is the ultimate in sustainable design and construction.

If you have any further questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

Asphalt for Performance

Performance Means Sustainability

Porous Asphalt: Improving Stormwater Management

Friday, February 24th, 2012

We have a new, powerful tool to help improve stormwater management and water quality: Porous Asphalt.

In nature, rainwater is absorbed by soil, filters through it, and eventually seeps into streams, ponds, lakes, and underground aquifers. In urban areas, rainwater falls directly  on cement and asphalt pavements and has nowhere to filter out harmful contaminants. As a result, those contaminants are washed into waterways without undergoing the filtration that nature intended.

This is where porous asphalt can help!

Porous asphalt has an open-graded (porous) surface over an underlying stone recharge bed, allowing rainwater to drain through the asphalt, into the stone, and then the soil. If contaminants were on the surface at the time of the storm, they are swept along with the rainfall through the stone bed. From there they infiltrate into the sub-base so that they are subjected to the natural processes that cleanse water.

Benefits of Porous Asphalt

•      Conserve water

•      Allow for better use of land

•      Reduce runoff

•      Promote infiltration

•      Clean stormwater

•      Replenish aquifers

•      Protect streams, ponds, and other waterways

Porous asphalt pavements are being used successfully throughout the United States, in every type of climate and geography. They are recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency as a best management practice for stormwater management.

If you have any further questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

Asphalt for Better Water Quality

Asphalt and the Environment

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Believe it or not, asphalt is actually not bad for the environment. Don’t believe me, then check out the facts:

  • Between 1960 and 1999, while production of asphalt pavement material increased by 250 percent, total emissions from our operations decreased by 97%.
  • Asphalt is an environmentally sustainable pavement.
  • Once constructed, asphalt pavements have minimal impact on the environment. Studies show that asphalt pavements and stockpiles of reclaimed asphalt pavement do not leach.
  • Asphalt and the processes used to produce asphalt are green.
  • Asphalt pavements require about 20 percent less energy to produce and construct than other pavements.
  • Asphalt pavement is America’s most recycled product, with about 70 million tons of asphalt pavement material being reclaimed. And more than 99% of that total is reused or recycled. In 2010 alone, asphalt recycling conserved over 20.5 million barrels of asphalt binder.
  • Porous asphalt pavements offer a tool for storm water management with both environmental and economic benefits.
  • Warm-mix asphalt reduces fuel consumption, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances the quality of pavement.
  • Porous asphalt pavements have been shown to lower nighttime surface temperatures as compared to impervious pavements.
  • Asphalt pavements are faster to construct and rehabilitate.

If you have any further questions, contact an experienced asphalt company today – a company like PTG Enterprises. The asphalt experts here have managed hundreds of pavement projects and have the experience you need. So contact PTG Enterprises aka My Pavement Guy today by calling 410-636-8777 or click here today!

Give me the opportunity to impress you. I can be your one stop ‘Pavement Guy,’ for any pavement project regardless of size or scope.

Check us out on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

Environment, Health, and Safety

Asphalt, The Sustainable Pavement