Did you miss an issue of the California Asphalt Insider? No problem! Past editions of the newsletter are available at the CalAPA newsletter archive page.

  

There's plenty of information, and misinformation out there about asphalt pavements. Click HERE to get the straight scoop at the Asphalt Facts website.  

"Quality in California" is an interactive blog that covers the materials industry in California. It is written by Toni Carroll of CalAPA member Syar Industries. Click HERE to join the discussion. 

This weekly bulletin contains the latest news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements.

 

An extraordinary collaboration between Caltrans, industry and academia to produce asphalt pavement designs that will last 40 or more years is highlighted in this month's California Asphalt magazine.

  

Years of research has started to bear fruit in the form of long-life   asphalt pavement projects on the 710 Freeway in Los Angeles County, two projects on Interstate 5 in the north state and a project just getting under way on Interstate 80.

  

The special "Innovation Issue" of California Asphalt magazine also features reports on new Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) specifications and other industry happenings. Click HERE to view an interactive, 3-D issue.

  

The editors of the Asphalt Insider newsletter and California Asphalt magazine always welcome story ideas about member company news, successful projects and other items of interest to the asphalt pavement industry. Click HERE to submit a story idea.

CalAPA member Graniterock is well known for its commitment to producing a quality product. But the company is just as committed to exporting quality ideas and sharing the many lessons learned over more than a century in the materials business.

 

Former Graniterock CEO Bruce Woolpert was well-known for this approach to management, which was chronicled in a profile that appeared in CalAPA's California Asphalt magazine last year. Click HERE to read the article.

 

And the tradition continues. Last month Keith Severson from

Keith Severson delivers the keynote address at an Ohio asphalt conference.

Graniterock was the keynote speaker to more than 300 attendees during the March 6 Prayer Breakfast at the 2013 Ohio Asphalt Expo. Attendees to this event ranged from senior executives to field employees of asphalt producers and contractors, equipment suppliers, and engineering consultants.

 

Severson's presentation focused on the corporate quality culture of Graniterock, which lead to their winning the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1992 and presented to Woolpert by President George H.W. Bush.

 

"Graniterock's commitment to quality is a shining example of an exemplary corporate culture for the entire industry," said Cliff Ursich, President & Executive Director of Flexible Pavements of Ohio. "Flexible Pavements of Ohio was honored Mr. Severson agreed to speak to our membership and share the Graniterock story." 

 

For his part, Severson told Asphalt Insider that he was impressed with the expertise in the room and the insightful and thought-provoking questions posed by attendees.

  

Caltrans recently released an updated version of the "Superpave" specification it is using on pilot projects as the department moves toward adopting the national standard in 2014.

  

Click HERE to view a copy posted to the CalAPA website. The  association also maintains a web page of Superpave resources HERE.

  

Joe Peterson, chief of roadway materials testing for Caltrans, has been compiling data from the pilot projects as the department and industry are evaluating how the proposed specifications stand up to real-world projects.

  

A joint Caltrans-industry task force is meeting periodically to discuss the evolving specification. For more information, contact CalAPA technical consultants Jim St. Martin at (949) 933-3905 or Rita Leahy at (916) 239-8315.

California Transportation Commission Vice Chairman Carl Guardino will be the keynote speaker, and Hasan Ikhrata, Executive Director of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) will also be on the program. They will give a statewide and regional perspective on transportation infrastructure funding, policy and future trends.

  

There also will be numerous technical topics addressed at the

Patti Neat with Valero at the fall conference in Sacramento.

ference, including the latest changes in Caltrans specifications and the department's planned move to the national "Superpave" standard, a Greenbook update, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) best-practices, Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) specification changes and other technical presentations. Click HERE to view the updated timed agenda. The event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario.

  

Click HERE to visit the event website and to register on-line. Sponsors should contact Sophie You of CalAPA at (916) 791-5044 to reserve your display table at the event. Space is limited and the tables will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Click HERE to download the sponsorship form.

Fact #32: Perpetual (long-life) asphalt pavements have low environmental impact because they reduce the amount of natural resources needed over the pavement's life. READ MORE.

   

   

"What is happiness? It's a moment before you need more happiness." 
                                       

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news and events in California that may impact the asphalt pavement industry. Click HERE to contact us with any comments or suggestions.