Attached for your information is a copy of the above-mentioned change memorandum and special specifications that have been posted to the web. Due to time constraints for projects letting in January 2020, the effective date for this special specification has been changed. This special specification has been approved for statewide use and is required for all projects using Superpave mixtures beginning with the February 2020 letting. However, the use of this special specification prior to the February 2020 letting is at the district’s option.

 

Links to all documentation and videos explaining the changes are available at the link below.

 

Attached for your information is a copy of the above-mentioned change memorandum and special specification that have been posted to the web. Due to time constraints for projects letting in January 2020, the effective date for this special specification has been changed. This special specification has been approved for statewide use and is required for all projects using dense grade hot mix beginning with the February 2020 letting. However, use of this special specification prior to the February 2020 letting is at the district’s option.

 

Links to all documentation and a video explaining the changes are available at the link below.

A Perpetual Pavement is a long-lasting, thick hot mix asphalt (HMA) pavement structure with an intended service life of more than 50 years without major structural rehabilitation. Although a Perpetual Pavement requires surface maintenance over its lifespan, the goal is to construct a pavement strong enough to resist structural distress and durable enough to withstand traffic and environmental damage. In this webinar, Dr. Charles Gurganus of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute will share the results of a study conducted on several existing structures; the results of which indicate excellent long-term performance is not only possible but is occurring. Existing sections show little to no structural distress with surfaces lasting upward of 12 years before their first maintenance.

Join Larry Welch of TXAPA and Gary Fitts of Kraton Polymers for an informative webinar on Liquid Asphalt. Participants will: 

 

- Gain an understanding of how asphalt binders are produced, handled and specified;
- Be introduced to polymers and polymer-modified asphalt; and
- Learn the performance characteristics of HMA using polymer modified asphalt binders

 

Presenter Gary Fitts is experienced in pavement evaluation and design, pavement materials selection, construction methods and specifications, and test procedures and troubleshooting. He has contributed to published research reports and publications and has spoken publicly on a wide range of pavement/materials-related topics at hundreds of events throughout the Americas in English and Spanish. He has served on several Transportation Research Board committees, the Applications Steering Committee for the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Asphalt User-Producer Group.
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When working around equipment, it is vital that you keep eye contact with the operator of the piece of equipment.

The Asphalt Road-eo Student Competiton is scheduled for Fri.-Sat., Dec. 6-7, 2019 at the TXAPA Campus in Buda, TX. Once again we will hold a career fair to give competitors an opportunity to learn more about the industry by speaking with recruiters from TXAPA member firms. Register your company to attend and meet qualified candidates from engineering, construction, and technical programs throughout Texas. Your registration includes a table, two chairs and BBQ dinner on Friday.

 

To learn more about the competition and register, click the link below. 

 

Fri., Dec. 6, 2019 3pm-8pm (Welcome Reception/Dinner)

Sat., Dec. 7, 2019 8am-3pm (Day of Competition)

 

 

TXAPA is excited to announce that this year, we will host our first ever Winter Classic Golf Tournament at La Cantera Resort and Spa in San Antonio. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the TXAPA Scholarship Program. Directly after the tournament we’ll head straight into the Membership Meeting. Our goal is to expand the Membership Meeting, offering more education and content making it a must-attend event for our members. No matter what the weather, we’re going to get together as an industry for a good cause and go out there and have fun!

After the phenomenal success of MAPS 2019 we are planning round two for San Marcos, TX!

 

Join 300+ engineers, planners, project managers, and decision makers from cities, counties, CE&I firms, and private developers all over Texas.

 

Exhibitor space is available now! Click here to take advanrage of the early bird rate of $150 off the exhibitor fee. Includes two free registrations.

 

Registration is only $75 and includes BOTH days. Members register here.

 

Be sure to invite your city and county customers for two days of valuable resources and education from some of the top voices in the industry. Send them this link.

For more than 30 years, CWMF Corporation has been offering portable and stationary asphalt plant equipment, parts and service. We build long-term trusted relationships by helping our customers optimize overall plant performance and run at peak efficiency. Whenever we can offer solutions for existing equipment, we absolutely do.

 

These are the values we bring into the field.

 

FLEXIBILITY: We’re fiercely committed to quality but fluid and flexible in the ways we provide it.

 

INTEGRITY: We do what we say we’re going to do. When mistakes happen, we own them and do whatever we can to make things right.

 

EXCELLENCE: We believe excellence is the result of focused intention, sincere effort and skilled execution.

 

LOYALTY: We cultivate loyalty and trust with others by demonstrating integrity and consistency over time.

 

DRIVE: Failure is not an option. 

In TXAPA Historian Gary Corley’s latest article, he states that engineering is, "a trait born of ingenuity." I don’t think he could be more spot on. Engineers are born problem solvers and maybe more than any other profession, they change the landscape of our daily lives. That’s why every year we dedicate an issue of Texas Asphalt to engineers and engineering. Asphalt pavement has represented the ultimate challenge and reward for engineers throughout the state of Texas (and beyond!). Many who have appeared in these pages, including the esteemed Dr. Jon Epps of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, who is featured in this month’s Partners in Quality Interview, believe that engineering a successful asphalt pavement requires a combination of precision and craft that you just don’t find in other paving materials. When it’s right, the siren call of a beautifully paved road that can last indefinitely with routine maintenance and provide a smooth and safe ride for generations to come is undeniable to any dyed-in-the-wool asphalt pavement enthusiast. This industry does indeed draw the most ingenious among us and for many, the attraction lasts a lifetime.

Did you know about PaveXpress, a scoping tool to help you create simplified pavement designs while taking into account key engineering inputs?

Explore and analyze IRI data in the FHWA Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) database to gain insights into the factors that have historically governed and/or influenced the change in pavement IRI over time.

Are you working with an exemplary company that would be a good fit for TXAPA? Send them the link to our new, fillable, application available at the link below:

Make sure you are receiving important information from TXAPA. Double check your email address and update your email preferences. 

If you have been having trouble accessing the TXAPA website here are two things you can try.

Cancel or add subscriptions and update your address – it’s as easy logging into TexasAsphalt.org!

Your digital edition of TXAPA 2019 Membership Directory is available now. Clicking on the Table of Contents will deliver you directly to that page of your issue. Thank you for reading!

Certification and training classes through the HMAC are filling up fast! Check on the schedule online.

HMAC Director Corey Schwarz, 2019 Tehcnician of the Year Abraham Munoz, and Miles Garrison of TxDOT