The Science of Asphalt and its Greater Gardner Impact – a Gardner Magazine Report
Road paving in Greater Gardner is often a source of considerable discussion because the citizenry would like roads paved in a more timely manner. However, at $1 million per mile, road paving is expensive. In the City of Gardner, paving all 100+ miles of roads in one year would in total be more than the total Municipal, School, and Enterprise fund budgets for the entire year. Our question: Is there science which documents that a different paving mix would yield a longer lasting road and could the City of Gardner ask for a different mix? We have a Deep Dive with the Chair Man and the Chair Lady discussing Plastic in Asphalt which might solve 2 problems: find a home for plastic waste and create longer-lasting pavement. And the Deep Dive covers the concept of developing an asphalt mix. The research is not over and is needed before major changes are made. Listen to the findings on any device, CLICK PLAY.
In the City of Gardner
So what if the City of Gardner said to a contractor, I would like a different mix? Well, we actually asked DPW Director Dane Arnold who explained that “ I would hate to change from MDOT to our own mix recipe and then have it fail and waste taxpayers’ money. I’d weigh on the safe side until there was a proven better mix type for the Northeast.” And to understand why Arnold made that statement, we take you to the process undertaken by the State of Massachusetts which is rigid: Paving companies have to get approval from the State for the particular mix they will be using. Webpage, CLICK HERE.
The Rigid Asphalt Mix Approval Process in Massachusetts
The State maintains a webpage with a list of approved asphalt mix companies. There are about 2 dozen in Massachusetts. To be an approved asphalt plant the facility must: Submit a quality systems manual, be audited by the research and materials sections, use a NETTCP qualified laboratory which can perform specific tests required by the State of MA, and possess MassDot approved Superpave mix designs. In addition, the MassDOT RMS will issue a mix design approval letter for each year. Therefore, when the City of Gardner goes out to bid for a particular project, it specifies that a mix approved for the particular use be used. Second-guessing the already existing system might sound exciting, but as Arnold points out, it might “waste taxpayers’ money.” Here’s the current list of asphalt production facilities in the State, CLICK HERE. We also have a Federal HMA Asphalt Guide available on pdf for your review, CLICK HERE.