ACEC WI Department of Transportation Liaison Committee Quarterly Meeting

February 3, 2015

Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association • A nonprofit organization that represents Wisconsin’s asphalt

industry• We are a resource for our members (80+ contractors and

manufacturers), their customers and the public at large. • We are a third party…product driven• Contact us at: www.wispave.org• Brandon Strand – Executive Director• Deb Schwerman – Director of Engineering

4600 American Parkway Suite #201 Madison, WI 53718 608-255-3114

Estimating HMA projects• What’s in hot mix asphalt• Air• Aggregates• PG binder

• Air• For now it’s free…

• Aggregates• Engineered product from mining, drilling, blasting, crushing,

screening, washing, processing, stockpiling, loading, hauling, etc…• Consensus property requirements• ESAL fractured face specification (E-0.3 vs. E-30)

PG Binder• Performance Grade Binder• Temp ranges in °C• Resist rutting• Resist cracking

• Petroleum by-product• Modified to take on different properties• Acid or polymer modifiers

• Additives• Warm Mix • Anti-Strip• Rejuvenators• Extenders

What affects PG Binder cost?• Market is fluid…dependent on demand• Follow FDM 14-10-5.10 for appropriate PG binder grade uses• Additives are very expensive• Limit PG binder grades to three per project (2 if possible)

• Utilize a full tanker truck load of liquid binder (FDM 14-10-35.3.2)• Approx. 22 tons of liquid = 420 tons of HMA

What affects mixture cost?• The asphalt plant• Portable vs. Permanent• Haul distance from project

• Project type• Availability of recycled materials-base course or RAP• Possible asphalt savings by utilizing salvaged pavement/millings

• Testing requirements• Proper certifications• HMA volumetric testing, PG binder, tack coat, etc…• Nuclear density testing (test strip, cores, etc…)• IRI testing• Documentation and overhead

What affects mixture cost?• Anticipated disincentive potentials• Material specific• Time specific (working day contracts vs. completion dates)

• Constructability concerns• Longitudinal joint construction (joint heaters)• Obstacles (RR crossings, bridges, bus pads, manholes, inlets,

water boxes, etc…)• Number of side roads, intersections, turn lanes, etc…

• Cold weather production• Increased drying time• Superheating of materials• Plant and personnel operate slower

What affects mixture cost?• Traffic• Closed/open traffic• Tandem paving

• Staging• Restrictions (working hours, days of the week, holidays, etc…)• Multiple mobilizations• Night versus daytime working hours

• Project Let dates• Understand project schedule• Resources versus work• Overtime workload• Proper construction management

Requirements that increase costs• Material transfer devices• Longitudinal joint heaters• Cold Weather Paving specification per ASP 6• WMA additives are required-biddable item • Additional rolling equipment is required• More contractor risk

Tips for accurate estimates• Know your project• Get out in the field• Visualize construction-understand the staging of the project• Understand time restrictions (lane closures)• Use proper traffic mitigation for project (detours, flaggers, reduce

speed limit, etc…)• Don’t rush, take your time…if you have a question, ask• Try not to overcomplicate the project• Provide accurate and “defined quantities”• Review the project through the eyes of industry for bidding

and the project staff for building• Be careful when using prior designs as a reference

Tips for accurate estimates• Average unit prices are not necessarily representative• Get rid of the “bid it as you see it” mentality• Allow enough time to properly build the project• Use your asphaltic surface SS465 bid items…• Distinguish mainline paving from all other paving with the

appropriate item• Identify areas of non mainline paving and ensure that contract

time allows for all of that “other” work• For smaller tonnage projects determine if the item is adequate

Tips for smooth construction• Proper management• Partnering• Don’t be afraid to be the engineer• Make engineering judgments• Don’t let change orders negatively affect project• You are not the designer…we are not a method spec. state…

building per plan might not be right for every application

Items to remember• Time is money• If you can’t quantify or define it…it’s risk• Risk is expensive• Complication = Risk• When in doubt…ASK!!!

Things to come…• Combined bid item for E-mix and PG binder• Re-writing of QMP to include PWL specification for larger

projects• Ride specification requirement for bridges and approaches• Specification Updates• Tack increase from 0.025 gal/sy to 0.05-0.07 gal/sy• Increase VMA requirement for E-0.3 and E-3 surface mixes• Cold Weather paving specification (SS 450)• Elimination of PG 64-22…now PG 64-28• CMM re-write for nuclear density (8-15)• CMM re-write for design life, mix design, dispute resolution, etc…

(8-65/66)

Things to come…• PG binder MSCR testing (Phase I implementation)• HMA Paving inspector requirement for all projects with over

5000 tons of HMA• Training is held in each Region state-wide

• Pilot project solicitation• High RAP/RAS• Thin Lift Overlay• Cold in Place Recycling• Full depth reclamation

HMA Inspection Training 2015

WAPA• Thank you for having me• Annual Conference• Black Bag training sessions• Work hand in hand with DOT/FHWA/Locals etc…• Green Team• Tech Team• Sub-committee work• WHRP

• Don’t hesitate to reach out…that’s what we’re here for

Questions