david e. newcomb russel lenz cindy estakhri · 2010 $337 million out of $2 billion allocated to pm...
TRANSCRIPT
David E. Newcomb Russel Lenz
Cindy Estakhri
2010 $337 million out of $2 billion allocated to PM Much of PM goes to seal coats To maximize value, alternative binders for seal coats
introduced Tier System
Three tiers based on AADT Binders intended to have similar performance Contractors allowed to choose cost-effective
alternative
Tiers
Seal Coat Seasons
Type Grade
• Within tier, select two or more available binders • Select aggregate allowed for use with binders
Tier I Asphalt-Rubber or Heavy Polymer Modification
Tier II Polymer Modified AC or Polymer Modified
Emulsion Tier III
AC or Emulsion Winter
Emulsion or Cutback
Select one binder among alternatives within tier OR select binder from higher traffic tier
Select aggregate from among alternatives In the event of binder shortage for one
alternative, may switch to another designated alternative without change order
Objective Gather experience and opinions on Tier System TxDOT personnel Contractors Suppliers
Follow-on study to examine performance and cost Scope
Gather opinions and experience Summarize Draw conclusions and make recommendations
Personnel District Engineers Area Engineers Maint/Operations Designers Materials Engineers Planners Seal Coat Supervisors Maintenance Supervisors
Five Contractors Brannan Construction Cox Paving Jones Brothers Lipham Construction Clark Construction
Material Suppliers – All binder types represented Cox Paving Martin Asphalt Pelican Refining Valero Wright Asphalt
SAVED $33 MILLION OVER 2.5 YEARS Use of the Alternative Binder Selection on DWP only. Consider waiving the tier system where decision is
justified. Use tiers in individual projects when possible. Continue to monitor savings from tier system. Change traffic characterization. Develop generic specifications. Encourage the development of a good winter binder. Sponsor tech transfer including:
webinars and/or workshops newsletter
Contractors Overall satisfaction with one opposite opinion. Eliminate aggregate portion of the table. Allow districts to engineer individual projects rather
than requiring the table on all projects. Encourage preconstruction pavement evaluation and
preparation. Update Manual to include the table discussions of binders and applications expand on seal coat inspection
Suppliers Tier system spurred competition - a positive
experience. Educate TxDOT on trouble-shooting seal coat
pavement problems. Tier system has not impacted business practices in
terms of product demand or the efficiency. Winter sealing operations should be avoided unless
immediately covered. If necessary, more attention to weather monitoring and construction.
Most believe system should be opened to as many binders as possible within a given tier.
More education Change traffic characterization Keep using the tier system on district-wide programs Update seal coat manual Develop standards for pavement preparation ahead of seal
coat application. Allow flexibility for particular binder in some
circumstances. Use tier system on individual projects where a specific
binder is not required. Develop a generic binder specification. Remove aggregate requirements Initiate research to develop a good winter binder. Initiate research to develop seal coat test methods.