Eight states honored for long-lasting roads

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) has recognized eight state departments of transportation with a 2015 Perpetual Pavement Award for high quality, long-life asphalt pavements.

The award is presented to state transportation departments and local agency road owners for well-performing asphalt pavements that are at least 35 years old with proven high-quality structural design.

To earn the award, the pavement must have not suffered a structural failure, and it should have an average interval between resurfacing of no less than 13 years. The road must demonstrate the characteristics expected from a long-life, perpetual pavement design: excellence in design, quality in construction and value to taxpayers.

Engineers at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) located in Auburn, Alabama, evaluated the nominations and validated the results for the eight award winners. Since the awards were first presented in 2001, 108 pavements in 30 U.S. states and one Canadian province have been honored with the award.

The eight 2015 winners are:

Alabama Department of Transportation for a 2.7-mile section of SR 133 on the northern bypass around Florence in Lauderdale County. This is the seventh Perpetual Pavement Award for ALDOT.

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department for a 3-mile, two-lane section of US 62 in Carroll County near Berryville from milepost 3.0 to 6.0. It is the sixth Perpetual Pavement Award for AHTD.

Florida Department of Transportation for a six-lane, divided-median section of I-75/SR 93 in Alachua County from milepost 0 to 9.27. This is the sixth Perpetual Pavement Award for FDOT.

Michigan Department of Transportation for a two-lane stretch of SR 20 in Isabella County. It is the third Perpetual Pavement Award for MDOT.

Minnesota Department of Transportation for a 3.24-mile, two-lane section of SR 71 in Beltrami County from milepost 317.28 to 320.52. MnDOT has had 14 pavements recognized with the Perpetual Pavement Award, more than any other state or agency.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for a 3-mile, four-lane section of divided highway on I-180 in Northumberland County from milepost 1.5 to 4.5. PennDOT has earned five Perpetual Pavement Awards.

South Carolina Department of Transportation’s 6.53-mile stretch of a four-lane divided highway on I-20 in Lexington County. SCDOT has earned five Perpetual Pavement Awards.

Tennessee Department of Transportation for a 3.96-mile, four-lane segment of divided highway on US 27/SR 29 in Hamilton County from milepost 11.04 to 15. This is the 11th Perpetual Pavement Award earned by TDOT.

Winning agencies are honored by their local state asphalt pavement association and are presented with an engraved crystal obelisk. The names of the winning agency and the winning projects are also added to a plaque on permanent display at the NCAT Research Center at Auburn University.

The APA is a partnership of the Asphalt Institute, National Asphalt Pavement Association and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations. Visit asphalt roads.org to learn more about perpetual pavements and download a nomination form.