A hot-in-place pavement recycling project in the mountains of west Colorado is the winner of three awards from the Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association (CAPA), including two for smoothness.
The project, U.S. 6 from Clifton to Palisade east of Grand Junction, for the Colorado Department of Transportation, won Best in Colorado Smoothness Pavement, 'Smoothest' Paving Crew for a Resurfacing Project and Urban Highway Resurfacing awards from CAPA.
"The 'Best in Colorado' awards recognize quality asphalt pavement construction in our state," said Tom Peterson, executive director of CAPA. "In Colorado each year there are between 800 and 1,000 asphalt paving projects, and to be recognized as 'the best of the best' is truly a worthy recognition and something to be proud of."
Award criteria for the Colorado Smoothest Pavement and Smoothest Paving Crew for a Resurfacing Project awards include results of profilograph tests and improvement in smoothness from the initial profilograph data to the final profilograph data. Both smoothness awards are evaluated according to the number of paving passes and if the surface was milled prior to the paving operation.
CAPA's criteria for the Best in Colorado Urban Highway Resurfacing Award include overall appearance, segregation, longitudinal joints, transverse joints and ride quality.
Smoothness on the U.S. 6 project was enhanced by a new preheater-conveying vehicle (PCV) developed and used by contractor Cutler Repaving Inc. The PCV preheats the aged asphalt pavement in advance of the main recycler, while receiving virgin HMA for the surface course. Much like a material transfer vehicle, the PCV isolates the main repaver from HMA delivery trucks, eliminating the ubiquitous "bumps" between the paver and truck which cause mat discontinuities.
