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 INTRODUCING ASPHALT MAN!!! Pitkin County has taken a very innovative approach to public education and outreach in an attempt to inform citizens about the needs of their local roads. Brian Pettit, Public Works Director, Pitkin County has taken a unique, fun and creative approach to informing and involving its constituency about the needs of its paved road system in preparation for a potential property tax increase (no decision on this yet) in the fall. Roads, asphalt and deterioration just do not seem to be “sexy” enough to grab people’s attention. They have created a superhero named “Asphalt Man” has been developed and informative cartoons have been running in the local papers for the last few weeks. A website has been developed www.knowyourroads.com
CHANGES MADE TO TRENCH COMPACTION STANDARDS
The City of Colorado Springs has approved changes to its Streets Standards as a result of the joint Trenching/Subgrade Work Group. Representatives of the City of Colorado Springs, El Paso County and the construction industry participated. Highlights of the changes are included in a memo from the City Engineering dated January 31, 2008 . It provides highlights of the changes made in SECTION 200. Probably the two biggest changed are the requirements for density testing of trenches at 2 foot vertical intervals and one test per every service line. The changes become effective April 1, 2008. For more information contact Gerald W. Banks, P.E., City Engineering, (719) 385-5407 or jbanks@springsgov.com
ASPHALT IS CLEAR WINNER IN RECENT ALTERNATE BIDS WITH CONCRETE - Asphalt pavement has been selected as the clear winner in two recent alternate bids. Based on information from CAPA, the Town of Elizabeth allowed an asphalt option for the first time ever and asphalt was selected for the 20,000 ton street improvement project. Also, El Paso County allowed a concrete option for the planned reconstruction of Academy Blvd. However, asphalt was selected.
CAPA PARTNERS WITH MGPEC TO ESTABLISH A RAP TASK FORCE
A new task force is being established with the Metropolitan Pavement Government Engineers Council (MGPEC) regarding the use of recycled asphalt pavement. Tom Clayton attended the June meeting of the MGPEC Board of Directors meeting and proposed a joint task force that would discuss “best practices” and new developments regarding the use of recycled asphalt pavement. A meeting has been scheduled for August 28th in the RMAEC training room. For more information or to become part of this effort, contact Tom Clayton at tomclayton@co-asphalt.com or at (303) 741-6150.
LTAP Publishes RMAEC Education Information
Check out the Summer Newsletter of the The Colorado Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP). The front page of the newsletter is devoted to asphalt education and the benefit of training for personnel involved in street improvement programs. To see the article click here!
CAPA PUBLISHES INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE ON THE USE OF RAP
CAPA has published an informational brochure concrening the use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in HMA mixtures. a copy is available by using the link here.
Tom Clayton is working with Local Agencies to discover the current level of use of RAP and the procedure to increase the percentages used. If you have information to share with us concerning RAP usage, contact Tom.
BEST PRACTICES IN USE OF RECYCLED ASPHALT PAVEMENT
Once again the City of Lakewood is leading the way on innovative use of hot mix asphalt pavement. The 2007 Lakewood street improvement contract includes the following provision that allows 30% RAP. Here is the provision:
[Mixes used on collector streets overlay shall not contain more than 20% RAP. Mixes used on all patching and residential streets overlay shall not contain more than 30% RAP.]
The 2007 City of Lakewood Asphalt Specification is available here. For more information, contact Chris Jacobsen of the City of Lakewood (303) 987-7951.
REGIONAL ASPHALT SPECIFICATIONS COMPLETED
The effort in Colorado Springs and El Paso County to develop joint regional asphalt specifications has been completed. The intent was to reduce the variation of specifications from one agency to another and to develop a uniform specification throughout the "Pikes Peak Region." To download the "PikesPeak Regional Specification use this link. For more information or for assistance, contact Tom Peterson at tompeterson@co-asphalt.com.
IMPROVE PROJECT SUCCESS THROUGH IMPROVED JOB SITE COMMUNICATION
Communication and job site cooperation is a key to project success. One very important way to ensure that a project gets started off on the right foot is to have a productive and meaningful pre-paving meeting. A joint CAPA/CDOT Task Force has been established to revamp CDOT's Pre-Paving Meeting Agenda Guideline. The guideline has been streamlined and updated. It is in pre-final format and available for review and comment. For comments, please contact Tom Clayton at (303) 741-6150. It is expected that the final Guideline will be available for use on all CDOT projects by June 1.
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