Pavement of the Future will increase Motorist Convenience, Cut Costs
For Immediate Release: May 1, 2004
Download Press Release
For more information, contact Fred Frecker, 614-221-5402
Canton Open House Showcases Ohio’s First Perpetual Pavement
Pavement of the Future will increase Motorist Convenience, Cut Costs
(Canton, Ohio) State and national industry leaders claim a new type of pavement currently under construction on a stretch of I-77 will eliminate construction-related traffic jams and save tax dollars in the future. Engineers and road construction industry officials from around the state and nation gathered at an open house event in Canton today to learn more about Ohio’s first Perpetual Pavement.
“Perpetual Pavement is going to change the way we build roads in Ohio,” said Fred Frecker, president and executive director of Flexible Pavements of Ohio. “The type of congestion you see on I-77 as they replace the worn out pavement will not be repeated. Transportation Departments won’t have to dig up and replace a Perpetual Pavement because it won’t wear out. This means a curtailment of construction-site traffic jams and eventually big savings in the long run.”
The event, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, the Asphalt Paving Alliance, Northstar Asphalt, and the Ruhlin Company featured educational sessions and a tour of the construction site, which stretches from Portage Street (exit 111) north to the Akron/Canton Airport (exit 113). Work on the northbound lanes will continue through the end of this construction season. Work will begin in the spring on the southbound lanes.
This project is the first Perpetual Pavement built in Ohio, one of only a few around the country. The Ohio Department of Transportation agreed to build the new pavement as a demonstration project as it considers Perpetual Pavement’s merits for future projects. Many industry experts believe it will soon appear on roads all over Ohio.
“It doesn’t make sense to keep building roads that we know are going to wear out,” said Roger Sandburg of the Asphalt Pavement Alliance, a national trade group. “In the past the construction industry has designed roads to handle a certain amount of distress before wearing out. This pavement is designed never to exceed that critical level of distress, and therefore to never wear out. This is a pavement that with minimal maintenance is going to last a lifetime.”
The pavement is constructed in 3 layers, designed to force distress to the surface where it can be quickly and easily maintained. Maintenance involves a process of grinding off the surface layer, recycling the removed material, and replacing it with a fresh layer of asphalt. This work can be done without inconveniencing motorists by doing it when roads are used the least, including night hours, leaving all lanes ready for traffic by rush hour. The cost for this periodic maintenance pales in comparison to the cost of completely removing and rebuilding a road, which is necessary when distress reaches the base of the pavement.
Flexible Pavements of Ohio is an association for the development, improvement and advancement of quality asphalt pavement construction. As the trade association for the Hot Mix Asphalt Paving Industry in Ohio, Flexible Pavements provides technical information and training for its members and customers on asphalt pavement design, production and construction. Visit www.flexiblepavements.org
for more information.
Date: February 26-28, 2025 Location: Ohio University Lancaster Campus ; 1570 Granville Pike; Herrold Hall, Room 102; Lancaster, OH 43130 Flexible Pavements of Ohio (FPO) offers this training course to prepare individuals having basic lab familiarity to take the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Level 2 Asphalt Technician Exam. Individuals who pass the written test will be scheduled for the practical laboratory exam. Select the link for course and registration information or register online below.
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Event Location: Columbus/Polaris Hilton Hotel, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43240 The Asphalt Expo is Ohio’s premiere asphalt pavement event with multiple concurrent educational sessions and an indoor and outdoor trade show and exhibition. If you construct, inspect, manage or maintain local or private transportation infrastructure the Ohio Asphalt Expo has the information you need to ensure a successful, long-lasting asphalt pavement. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris at a special conference rate. The special room rate will be available until the group block is sold-out. Select the link to access the conference room reservation page, contact the Hilton directly at (614) 885-1600 or visit www.hilton.com . ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Registration Form ↧ 2024 Ohio Asphalt Expo Program- New! ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Exhibitor Memo ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Exhibit Space & Sponsor Registration Form ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Indoor Exhibit Layout ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Outdoor Exhibit Layout ↧ Hilton Hotel Exhibitor Services Order Form
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Event Location: Fawcett Center, The Ohio State University; 2400 Olentangy River Rd.; Columbus, OH 43210 Online registration for this training is closed. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. The Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference is a collaborative effort of state and local government, academia and the asphalt industry to present practical, usable technologies and strategies for the design and construction of asphalt pavements. The 2024 OAPC is offered as either an in-person or virtual event. Please select your participation preference during registration. Registrants for virtual participation will receive an email with a link to access the event. Virtual registrations will not be accepted after January 31, 2025 to accommodate the distribution of information to access the online event.
Comprehensive Asphalt Mix Design School
Date: October 2-4, 2024 Location: Ohio University Lancaster Campus ; 1570 Granville Pike; Herrold Hall, Room 102; Lancaster, OH 43130 Online registration for this training is closed. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. Flexible Pavements of Ohio (FPO) offers this training course to prepare individuals having basic lab familiarity to take the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Level 2 Asphalt Technician Exam. Individuals who pass the written test will be scheduled for the practical laboratory exam. Select the link for course and registration information or register online below.
Flexible Pavements of Ohio (FPO) is accepting nominations for the 2024 Quality Asphalt Paving Awards, the Ecological Award, and the Master Craftsman Award. Nominations for the Quality Asphalt Paving Awards are being accepted for work performed during the 2024 construction season. Quality Asphalt Paving Award nominations are being accepted for Ohio Department of Transportation/Ohio Turnpike Projects, Local Roads or Streets, Commercial Parking Facilities, Special Use Pavements and Airport Pavements. The Ecological Award was established to recognize asphalt production facilities that best demonstrate safe and responsible environmental practices. Facilities will be judged on design layout, clean operation, maintenance performance practice, and community awareness activities. The Master Craftsman Award recognizes contractors whose work has stood the test of time. The winner of this award will be acknowledged for a commitment to quality workmanship, exhibited by exemplary pavement performance. The award recipient will be selected from pavements with an existing surface course having given acceptable service for 15-years or more and continues to provide exceptional service. Select the link for additional information including award nomination forms and eligibility requirements. Nominations for all award categories must be received at the FPO office by October 21, 2024 with a final deadline for award nominations on November 18, 2024. Please contact Andrew Gall at (614) 791-3600 or by e-mail at andrew.gall@flexiblepavements.org with any questions regarding the awards program.