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The article reports that Virginia has approved the execution of more warm-mix asphalt (WMA) applications. It says that the factors that contributed to the growing attention on the potential benefits of (WMA) in the U.S. are the rising energy costs and the need to reduce greenhouse gases. It mentions that because it provides workability at lower temperatures, state departments of transportation also are interested in WMA.

The article presents information on getting oil out of tar sands with reference to the U.S. dependency on oil. Canada exported almost 1.5 million barrels per day to the U.S. in 2005. The U.S. Energy Policy Development Group has described the tar sands as "a pillar of sustained North American energy and economic security." Tar sands consist of a mixture of 85 percent sand, clay, and silt; 5 percent water; and 10 percent crude bitumen. Tar sands are removed with huge mining shovels and trucks. Hot water is mixed with tar sands in large vessels to separate bitumen from sand. Bitumen is heated to separate hydrocarbon vapors from solid residue called coke. Oil products are shipped by pipelines to refineries throughout North America.

Presents information on the 2004 World of Asphalt (WOA) show which will be held in Nashville, Tennessee in March. Estimated number of attendees; Remarks from Peter Vlahos of WOA on the show; Range of computer software that will be exhibited by Cheetah Advanced Technologies Inc.

Presents several poster advertising in the United States. Sino Pacific Trading Co. Ltd. by Sahaath Limlucksana and Tham Khai Meng; Sony Espana, S.A. by Jesus-Martin Buitrago; Ace Asphalt by Marc Sobier.

The article reports on the significance of crumb-rubber modifier (CRM) on the improvement of pavement performance in the U.S. It cites that different rubber particle sizes and amounts of rubber can make huge different in CRM binders. Moreover, it is cited that the use of finely ground CRM may provide the prospect of performance grading asphalt-rubber binders.

Examines advances in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) technology in the United States, as of February 2004. Perpetual Pavements; Improvements in HMA mix technology that originated from Europe; Renewed focus on stone matrix asphalt; Superpave. INSET: New Research at NCAT's Track.

The article provides information on a selection of industries that will get first priorities assistance to speed reconversion by the U.S. War Production Board (WPB) in May 1945. It mentions that passenger automobile manufacturers will get tools amounting to 50,000,000 U.S. dollars and construction priorities of 35,000,000 U.S. dollars. The industries chosen by the board include the sugar processing machinery and equipment, bituminous equipment as well as tractor equipment.

The article reports on the process called thermo-chemical conversion (TCC) used by Innoventor Engineering Inc. The process uses intense heat and pressure that break down the molecular structure of manure into a basic form of petroleum that appears like tar pitch used in roofing and road repair. It notes that products of TCC includes electricity which can be sold to grid suppliers and the asphalt binder that has many uses. Details regarding the tests and the results are included.

Discusses pavement preservation with Hot-Mix Asphalt (HMA) in the United States. Benefits of HMA; Overlay thickness; National Perpetual Pavement Awards received by the Minnesota Department of Transportation;

The author shares her thoughts on seeing a shoe on the side of the road while riding her motorcycle in the U.S. According to the author, seeing a shoe on the side of the road is not once in a lifetime experience. There are also several web sites that deal with this roadside phenomenon including www.RoadSideShoe.com. The author also shares how motorcyclists are affected by road gators, the black bituminous compound strips found in the roadway.

The article offers a comparison between asphalt and concrete roads. When asphalt first arrived in the U.S. in 1870, concrete was already in use as a base below brick and stone roads. However, it was not until 1891 that cement was used as a city street surface. Improvements in pavement technology are said to have removed problems such as ruts and cracks in asphalt and concrete. Now, the things to consider when choosing between asphalt and concrete are life span, maintenance requirements and road closure time.

The article presents the study prepared by CTC & Associates LLC on the significance of fly ash in asphalt reclamation projects in theU.S. Study shows that the few states used full-depth reclamation (FDR) projects in conjunction with engineered asphalt emulsions, though several states performed FDR projects with fly ash. It was found out that only three states routinely use fly ash as part of FDR projects. It points out that fly ash is often added to soils to stabilize weak bases and subgrades.

The article focuses on plans of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's National Airport Pavement Test Facility to probe the effect of heavy airplanes like Russia's Antonov AN-124 landing on runway strips. It suggests that before laying new pavement for testing, engineers must rework the underlying ground material. Then 50 inches of concrete laced with up to 1,000 sensors will be layered. If trials show that airplanes damage runways, airports will be required to rebuild runways.

The article reports on the lack of uniformity in standardized testing procedure for modified asphalt across all 50 states in the U.S. It states that the testing of asphalt provides information on the product quality and serves as the basis for buying and selling. The Superpave Performance Grade (PG) standard is the result of the testing and grading criteria created by the federal Strategic Highway Research Program from 1988 to 1993, thus, it does not address the properties of modified asphalt, according to the article.

The article reports on a new test to measure lime in asphalt, to insure the proper mix for roadway longevity. Researchers at the Federal Highway Administration developed the test, with help from several state departments of transportation. The article includes extensive description of test development and methods.

The article describes research relating to increasing the elasticity and durability of roadways by using polymer-modified binders in the asphalt mix. Research by the Federal Highway Administration indicates that a test called the repeated creep and recovery test (RCRT) can help pavement designers and highway agencies to predict the binder's performance. The article offers background on testing and details the testing protocol.

Reports on the development of an asphalt-cement additive by Asphalt Solutions Inc. in Arizona. Mixture with he liquid asphalt cement; Neutralization of the bitumen smell; Chemical processes of the compounds.

The article offers information on warm-mix asphalt. It is inferred that dozens of road agencies and contractors are collaborating to do field demonstrations and test warm-mix performance. It cites that warm mix uses an additive or process that permits mix production at temperatures of 50 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It is noted that warm-mix asphalt has first come to the U.S. as a result of a study tour to Europe organized by National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) in 2002.

The article provides information on a variety of new paving materials and methods in asphalt and concrete, available to meet the demand for new road construction in the U.S. The Federal Highway Administration has recommended increasing highway capacity as well as widening local arterial roads. Two relatively new forms of asphalt, Stone Matrix asphalt and rubberized, are becoming more widespread.

This article reports that the rising prices of several different classes of materials slowed down but failed to eradicate overall yearly increases that have made some project cost estimates obsolete. Asphalt paving, Portland cement, ready-mix concrete and concrete block all leveled off, showing no or negligible increases. Portland cement's increase in the previous month was 0.4%. The overall material price increases for the year, however, remain significant. Near record-level oil prices kept the yearly price increase of asphalt paving at 12.7%.

Black Magic, Blacktop, Macadam, Tarmac, Hot Mix Asphalt, Asphaltic Concrete, Bituminous Concrete are all names for a flexible paving material. The common ingredient to all of these is asphalt. Today the U.S.-based Asphalt Recycling and Reclaiming Association has taught people to think of asphalt pavement from the bottom up. designs start with soil stabilization of the roadbed with asphalt. Reclaimed asphalt pavement, has many benefits both economical and environmental. When recycled on the site, think of all the trucking for hauling the material from the site to the plant and hauling new material from the plant to the paving site that is eliminated.

Invented by Charles McDonald in Arizona, rubberized asphalt is rapidly turning into the friction course of choice for roads Valley wide. Now, rubberized asphalt is the toast of Valley commuters with the first major road application in 2002, on the U.S. 60 freeway in the Valley's east side. Soon, all of the Valley's freeways will be covered in the rubberized asphalt. Not only docs the rubberized asphalt cut road noise levels from 50 to 90 percent, it's an environmentally friendly solution for the millions of discarded car tires normally headed for a landfill. That noise reduction has led to public clamoring for the asphalt, which contains crumbs of ground-up tires. On some road sections, researchers are placing heat sensors to determine the asphalt's heat loading characteristics in relation to the Valley's heat bubble.

Focuses on Lawrenceburg, Kentucky-based Hanson Aggregates' Tyrone Quarry's installation of an air separator to improve the quality of manufactured sand for bituminous products. Features of a dry processing air separator from Fisher Industries; Gradation of the feed material and the separated material; Benefits of the technology.

Reports on the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and the National Roofing Contractors Association's development of a manual and training video on the installation of modified bitumen roofing. Response to concerns on blistering of styrene butadiene styrene materials; Torch safety.

Highlights the findings of the National Roofing Contractors Association's 2000 market survey concerning usage of modified bitumen in the United States. Market share for styrene butadiene styrene and atactic polypropylene; Growth rates of cold-applied modified bitumen systems; Prevalence of use of hot-air welder for seaming modified bitumen laps.

Informs on cold-applied modified bituminous roofing in the United States. Availability of cold adhesives; Elimination of the need for a kettle man; Disadvantage of excessive application of cold adhesives; Key ingredients of cold adhesives; Offering of long-term flexibility; Speed of application.

Highlights the standards developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials for modified bitumen. Highlighting of differences in physical properties; Requirement of information on net coverage, minimum coating thickness and granule adhesion on package labels.

The article focuses on warm mix asphalt (WMA) which offered Caltrans an alternative that captured the attention of the Department of Transportation (DOT) of California in 2008. A warm mix workshop and demonstration project on Route 1 in Morro Bay, California included MeadWestvaco's Evotherm product and two other warm mix additives. Among the advantages of WMA technologies are reduced viscosity and reduced compaction challenges associated with cooled mixes or cold weather.

This article focuses on the use of three Terex CMI RS800 reclaimer/stabilizer by Road Reclaimers for its bituminous pavement reclamation projects. Initially, the company used only one Terex CMI RS650 reclaimer/stabilizer for its projects. But after four years, the company is already using three Terex CMI RS800. The company switched to the larger machines due to the unique conditions being encountered on roads in the Upper Midwest region in the U.S.

The article features ArrMaz Custom Chemicals, the largest manufacturer of phosphate processing and asphalt chemicals in North America as of January 2008. Based in Winter Haven, Florida, the firm has manufacturing facilities across the U.S. ArrMaz offers a full line of liquid products intended for the improvement of adhesion and cohesion between asphalt and aggregate, and improve the performance of asphalt pavements in terms of reduced pavement rutting and moisture-induced damage. Cited are some of its products.

The article reports the energy-saving recycled asphalt called Green Mix from the KMA 200 and other recycling equipment from Wirtgen America Inc. has been approved by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as eligible for points toward Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification of a structure or project. The recycled asphalt technology incorporates liquid foamed asphalt in which hot penetration-grade asphalt is foamed with water and air, and injected into reclaimed materials and aggregate in a mixing chamber.

The article reports on the performance of modified bitumen as the industry's most popular roofing system in the U.S. According to Rene Dupuis, president of Structural Research Inc., modified bitumen is the closest the people can get to built-up roofing, and it is extremely versatile during installation on roofs with many penetrations. Moreover, the good quality control in the factory and on the roof is the key to the performance of modified bitumen particularly as it relates to field seams.

The article reports that in the U.S. materials price escalation switched gears in 2005 as petroleum-based products took the lead from steel prices, which fueled inflation in 2004. The latest round of double-digit price increases for copper, plastic, gypsum and asphalt products are not driving inflation as hard as steel prices did in 2004. The annual inflation rate for 11 general building and valuation cost indexes fell from 8.5% a year ago to 5.5%. But this is still well above the average annual increases posted before 2004.

The article reports on the forecast of industrial market research firm Freedonia Group that demand for asphalt products will increase annually in the U.S. in 2009. Demand is forecast to advance 1.2% annually to 38.8 million tons. Increased federal and state spending on highway and road construction will drive gains for paving products.

The article discusses the impact of high prices of oil and other raw materials on the cost incurred by asphalt paving contractors in the United States. Asphalt paving contractors appear to have dodged the full impact of the recent spike in crude oil prices. The impact on bituminous concrete prices has been even more muted. Prices for gasoline and diesel, the cream of refined crude, track with rising demand on U.S. highways. Asphalt suppliers say liquid asphalt prices have remained high after the big jump they took in 2003 during the oil strike in Venezuela.

The article informs that the Hamm HD 0120V, a larger asphalt compactor that incorporates exclusive L oscillation technology, will be introduced to North America this month. The new roller has an operating weight of 26,345 lb, a drum width of 78 in. with an offset working width of 81.5 in. and a working speed of 3.9 miles per hour. The rear drum features oscillation compaction with oscillation force of 46,125 to 62,775 lb. The front drum will feature conventional vibration at a top frequency of 3,000 vpm.

This article presents information regarding ABG Titan 525, world's largest asphalt paver. It was manufactured by Allgemeine Baumaschinen-Gesellschaft MBH at Hameln, Germany in the year 2002. It has hopper capacity of 17.5 tons.

Reports that over 2.5 km of road on Mount Lee Drive, has been recycled in-situ by the City of Los Angeles Road Authority (CLARA) using a Wirtgen WR 2500 cold recycler as of November 1, 2003. Description of the Mount Lee Drive; Overview of the road recycling operation conducted by CLARA; Laboratory tests conducted by CLARA for the preparation of bitumen cold recycling mixture.