In order to meet the needs of its customers, TXAPA’s HMAC Training & Certification will launch an online program allowing for remote certification. Utilizing technology such as Zoom, the program is called HMAC Now in a nod to the on-demand nature of virtual services. Still in the testing stages, HMAC Director Corey Schwarz expects HMAC Now to begin serving technicians in need of recertification as soon as June 1, 2020. In order to certify online, a technician must have access to the necessary equipment as specified in the test procedures being evaluated. Virtual certification will not replace in-person certifications, rather it will provide new options for those who meet the requirements. In other HMAC news, online class registration is set to be up and running at TXHMAC.org by May 18, 2020.

 

If you are interested in participating in a pilot class, please contact Kayla Luongo.

TXAPA Live airs on Thursdays, three times a month skipping a week on the date of the TxDOT highway letting. You only need to register for TXAPA Live once, and then a reminder email with a link to join will be sent to you an hour before each broadcast. Watch all previous broadcasts here.

 

Our May Schedule is:

May 7: Technical Discussion: Hot Mix Asphalt Plants (.05 PDH)

May 14: TXAPA Live News & Updates

May 21: DFW Airport Chooses Asphalt For A Second Major Runway Rehab (1 PDH)

May 28: TXAPA Live Technical Discussion (.05 PDH)

TXAPA will continue to move the needle for quality in the coming decade by promoting a new concept in asphalt paving communication, a gathering of key personnel just prior to placement and compaction called the “All-Hands.” The All-Hands section of texasasphalt.org is packed with helpful resources and information. Check it out!

TxDOT’s Materials and Tests Division is conducting preliminary tests using the new Methylene Blue test procedure as specified to determine whether field sands are of the appropriate quality to produce high-performing HMA pavements. 

 

Of the initial 10 samples, 40% tested within the failure range. Because quality sand is essential to the performance of HMA pavements, it’s crucial to know what’s in your mix! For the ratings scale and the preliminary results, please see the attached graphic.

 

If, as the contractor, you have questions about the quality of your sand source, please contact Chuck Fuller at TXAPA and he will coordinate the delivery of your sample to TxDOT for testing. Each sample will be assigned a supplier-specific code to maintain confidentiality.

TXAPA worked with TxDOT, the AGC, the FHWA, and other industry partners to develop a plan for construction workplace safety. Please review the attached document and refer to it as needed to provide a safe and effective workplace for your employees during these unprecedented times.

 

Download and share these infographics breaking down the Texas Joint Workforce Safety Plan to help provide a safe and effective workplace for your employees in a clear and simple manner. 

As we continue to feel the increased impact of COVID-19, HMAC will postpone all Training and Certification classes through May 18, 2020. This date has been extended to meet necessary requirements and is subject to change. 

MTD is providing the following guidelines to address the QAP and support the needs for Construction and Materials testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the second year in a row, KLP Construction CEO and Co-Owner Nathali Parker was named to the Governor's Commission for Women. Governor Abbott is charging this commission with developing a strategy and implementation plan to help make Texas the number one state for women-owned businesses and to address the issue of human trafficking.

Industry partners have taken steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by implementing guidelines and policies laid out in the Texas Joint Workforce Safety Plan. Follow the link below to read the general guidelines agreed to by TxDOT, the AGC of Texas, TXAPA, the FHWA, and other industry partners.

Proper planning through the pre-activity meeting is essential to getting things moving in the right direction, but all the planning in the world will not ensure a good hot mix product if communication fails during the road operations.

We are happy to announce that the 46th TXAPA Annual Meeting, Golf Tournament, and Scholarship Program Live and Silent Auction at La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, will proceed as planned! We will, of course, closely monitor the situation as our nation re-opens for business. Your safety is always our primary concern. 

This year, we are celebrating the fine men and women of our industry and our partners in quality! When the going got tough, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Join us for excellence in technical content, networking, philanthropy, and fun as we welcome Texas Country stars Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers for a special concert performance of their Hold My Beer and Watch This, Volume II Tour. 

 
Online registration for the meeting opens late June 2020.

TXAPA’s Associate Member Advisory Committee, led by Chair Nathali Parker of KLP Construction Supply, has named The Woodlands as the host of the 2021 Managing Asphalt Pavements (MAPS) Conference and Technology Showcase on February 24-25. Site selection is underway with the venue to be announced mid-summer 2021. 

Until further notice, ALL TXAPA meetings and events are postponed through the end of May. We will reassess on May 18 and post any changes to this plan. 

 

Postponed events include any event requiring large groups of people to congregate, or that require travel for those who are advised to shelter in place or whose travel is deemed non-essential.

AECOM is the world’s premier infrastructure firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for generations to come.

ChemStation specializes in providing high quality industrial cleaning chemicals, including asphalt release agents to a variety of industries, using a unique system of delivery into refillable containers, bringing safety, convenience, and local service right to your door.

Distributed to nearly 5,000 industry professionals, Texas Asphalt magazine features articles about environmental issues, safety, new technology, best business practices, and more. Texas Asphalt is also distributed in an interactive, digital format. Subscribers do not have to be members of TXAPA to receive Texas Asphalt.

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.

Click the link below to visit a new section on TexasAsphalt.org called "What's New." This page contains a frequently updated list of all new content on the website, so you can find the important new information fast!

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 there are two things you can try.

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

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