Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: What is a Perpetual Pavement?
  A: Perpetual Pavements use multiple layers of durable, recyclable asphalt to produce a safe, smooth, long-lasting road. The hot-mix asphalt (HMA) design begins with a strong yet flexible bottom layer constructed on a good foundation. The bottom layer resists tensile strain caused by traffic, and thus stops cracks from forming in the bottom of the pavement. A strong intermediate layer completes the permanent structural portion, and a final layer of rut-resistant HMA yields a surface that lasts many years before scheduled restoration. A Perpetual Pavement provides a durable, safe, smooth, long-lasting roadway without expensive, time-consuming and traffic-disrupting reconstruction or major repair. The concept is similar to that of a house that periodically may need to be painted or re-roofed, but that still stands the test of time.


Provided by APA (Asphalt Pavement Alliance)

2. Q: What is rubblization?
  A: Rubblization is a cost-effective means of rehabilitating deteriorated portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements. The concrete is broken into pieces, and then it is overlaid with HMA. It minimizes delays and allows for construction during off-peak hours. The rubblized roadbed is left in place, so that it does not have to be trucked off to a landfill. This not only saves landfill space, it eliminates many trips by trucks, saving diesel fuel and reducing traffic congestion. The new asphalt pavement will remain smooth, safe and quiet for years.


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3. Q: How can asphalt reduce noise pollution?
  A: Many studies over the years have shown that HMA pavements reduce the sound produced at the tire-pavement interface. Special surfacings such as open-graded friction course (OGFC) and stone matrix asphalt (SMA) provide excellent skid resistance while reducing highway noise. When the concrete Superstition Freeway in the Phoenix area was overlaid with open-graded asphalt rubber last year, the reduction in noise was so dramatic that residents of other areas began demanding to have the concrete freeways through their neighborhoods get the same treatment. Arizona's state and local governments soon responded with a $34 million resurfacing plan that will encompass 115 existing miles of existing concrete freeways in Maricopa County, which surrounds Phoenix, the state capital.


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4. Q: What is America's most recycled product?
  A: According to a study published by the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, asphalt pavement is America's most recycled product. The asphalt industry recycles 80.3 million tons of its own product every year, the largest tonnage of any industry. And, asphalt's 80% recycling rate is higher than any other material's


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5. Q: How can asphalt pavements reduce delays for road users?
  A: Paving with asphalt cuts construction project time significantly and eliminates long curing times. As a result, traffic flows more smoothly, impact on commerce is minimized and safety hazards are reduced. Asphalt paving projects can be planned and carried out to take advantage of low-traffic periods, like nights and weekends, minimizing the project's impact on motorists, residences and businesses.


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6. Q: What pavement type costs the taxpayers less?
  A: For both the short term and the long haul, asphalt pavement saves money on construction and maintenance. A comparison by the Florida Department of Transportation calculated initial construction costs to be nearly 30% less for HMA than concrete. The department's figures on long-term residual value of the HMA pavement, meanwhile, were even more impressive: With proper maintenance, the department concluded that HMA's long-term value was more than twice that of concrete. In addition, HMA's maintenance requirements, at about half those of concrete, gave asphalt an advantage, the Florida highway officials concluded.


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7. Q: Where can asphalt pavements be used?
  A: Streets and highways: According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 94% of the 2.27 million miles of paved roads and highways in the U.S. are surfaced with asphalt.


Airports: Between 85-90% of all runways at the nation's 3,364 commercial airports are surfaced with HMA, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Busy commercial airports such as those in Boston, Las Vegas, Newark, Oakland, San Francisco and Toronto have main runways surfaced with asphalt.


Race tracks: Of the 34 NASCAR race tracks across the country, 31 are paved with asphalt surfaces.


Industrial applications: Even where the traffic is heaviest, such as at port container yards, timber yards and rail transfer yards, asphalt paves the way.


Bike paths, sidewalks and recreational facilities: HMA is ideally suited for providing paths that are aesthetically pleasing and blend well with natural settings.


Hydraulic structures: Fish hatcheries, drinking water reservoirs, pond linings and canal linings count on asphalt for a long-lasting, contamination-free surface.




Provided by APA (Asphalt Pavement Alliance)

These FAQs were provided by the APA (Asphalt Pavement Alliance). The APA does not endorse any product listed in this technical information. Product recommendations are based on our experience in working with the products directly, observation, or conversations with personnel within the industry and academic community.