Page 14 - May-June 2020 Vol38 No1
P. 14
KNOX COUNTY by Zack Helm
“Test” Pavement Still Performing
Twenty Years After Application
For most of its 48-year history, provide durability and ductility to the Extending the Lifecyle of Pavement
Pavement Technology, Inc. (PTI) has used pavement. Some of the maltene fractions Today’s engineers and Public Works
the slogan: “The Proof is in the Pavement,” of asphalt burn off during the high-
when applying Reclamite® maltene- temperature manufacturing process; more directors are trying to increase the
based asphalt rejuvenator to pavements maltenes are lost subsequently through lifecycle of their pavements. While a
throughout Tennessee. oxidation and weathering. When these “worst first” strategy may seem logical,
vital components are restored through taking that approach with roadways
A good example of this is on Verona an in-depth penetration of maltene-rich can result in increasing paving costs,
Lane in Knox County – where a Reclamite material, the durability and service life of putting agencies farther behind with
rejuvenator test section was applied on the asphalt pavement is extended. their budgeting. Gone are the days when
150 feet of pavement back in 1999. When agencies could afford to repave every
PTI recently went back to visit the test There are other ways to temporarily road in a timely way. A wider toolbox is
site, the road surface improvement was soften or improve the flexibility of asphalt, needed.
still visible 20 years after application. most notably through the application of
high Kb-solvent materials. However, the By spending a portion of paving
These photos of the treated and softening effect of such materials can be budgets on preventive maintenance, the
untreated areas of asphalt pavement were short-lived, and potentially damaging to overall transportation network improves.
taken in September 2019. The pavement’s the asphalt’s long-term condition. For example, if an agency decides to
treated portion is significantly less pitted Rejuvenators Used Widely For Decades take one mile of their paving budget
and remains smooth, while the majority and dedicate it towards a preventive
of the subdivision’s roadway is extremely PTI has been applying Reclamite maintenance program with Reclamite
raveled. rejuvenator in Tennessee since the mid- rejuvenator, then that mile would not
Treated Versus Untreated Road 90s. Currently, it is being used in large be repaved. Instead, the agency now is
programs across the state including performing life-extending work on ten
During rainfall, the road’s treated Nashville, Clarkesville, Germantown, miles of pavement with the same budget.
portion continues to shed water more Kingsport, and other areas. The long- What will benefit the agency more in
quickly, in comparison with adjacent term performance of treated asphalt the long run? One newly paved mile, or
neighborhood roads which remain wet. roadways is readily visible, with service extending the service life of ten miles of
These results demonstrate why Maltene life extensions averaging five years. roadways?
Replacement Technology (MRT) remains
the industry standard for sustainable The cost of a rejuvenating treatment is When considering different tools
performance. typically only 8 to 10 percent of the cost to improve the overall condition of
of pavement resurfacing. This means an roadways, a maltene-based rejuvenator
When selecting a rejuvenator, suppliers agency can generally apply 10 to 12 miles extends an extra advantage – and
should be queried if their products of Reclamite rejuvenator at about the same remember, the proof is always in the
are maltene-based. Maltenes are the cost of repaving a single mile. pavement.
components of the asphalt binder that
Treated vs. untreated section of roadway 20 years after application
14 TPW May/June 2020
