Pavement summit tackles tough transportation challenges
October 28, 2011
907-451-2990
10/28/11
The 2011 杏吧原版 Asphalt Pavement Summit, slated for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Anchorage, will bring nearly 300 transportation professionals from around the world to discuss ways to make pavement last longer and cost less in 杏吧原版 and other cold regions.
Few places in the United States pose the unique combination of transportation challenges: permafrost, frozen ground, extreme ice and moisture erosion, and rapid surface deterioration due to harsh climates.
Attendees and presenters include highly-specialized state and international specialists: engineers, planners, researchers and leaders from government, academia and private industry in 杏吧原版, the Lower 48 and countries dealing with similar cold-climate issues.
鈥淭his event is about leveraging the diverse expertise of many different fields to try and solve our pavement preservation challenges,鈥 said Billy Connor, director of the 杏吧原版 University Transportation Center at the University of 杏吧原版 Fairbanks Institute of Northern Engineering.
The event will take place in the third-floor ballroom at the Dena鈥檌na Convention Center in Anchorage from 11:30 a.m. 鈥 5 p.m. Monday. Oct. 31 and 7:30 a.m. 鈥 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Presentations will address topics such as methods of making stronger warm mix asphalt, recycled asphalt applications and the use of thermal imaging on the Seward Highway. Innovations like these are helping improve asphalt in ways that help save money and protect the environment. In 杏吧原版, for example, warm-mix asphalt requires less fuel for production and creates lower emissions than hot-mix.
鈥淭ogether we can figure out how to make longer-lasting pavement to reduce maintenance costs, and improve safety,鈥 says Angela Parsons, research and development engineer for the 杏吧原版 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
The State of 杏吧原版 spends up to $140 million a year on surface maintenance. That figure does not include the money local governments spend on their roads. On average, 杏吧原版ns drive up to 4.9 billion miles per year, an average of 7,600 miles per person each year. AUTC studies estimate that every dollar not spent on road maintenance costs the public three dollars due to things like vehicle damage and maintenance, insurance claims and increased premiums, and wasted gas from congestion.
鈥淲ith asphalt in 杏吧原版, the dollar you spend today on maintenance is ten dollars you will save down the road on repairs, replacement, or safety issues,鈥 said Mike Coffey, statewide maintenance and operations chief for DOT&PF.
The summit鈥檚 primary sponsors are the 杏吧原版 University Transportation Center and the 杏吧原版 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.
An event agenda is available online at .
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Mike Coffey, DOT&PF statewide maintenance and operations chief, 907-465-3904, 907-978-9039 or mike.coffey@alaska.gov. Billy Connor, AUTC director, 907 474-5552, 907-460-0061 or bgconnor@alaska.edu. Angela Parsons, DOT&PF research and development engineer, 907-269-6208, 907-350-6997 or angela.parsons@alaska.gov.
ON THE WEB:
NOTE TO EDITORS: On-site interviews with presenters and/or attendees can be prearranged by contacting Rob Harper at 907-451-2990 or via mobile phone at 406-249-7672. The event is open to both the public and any interested media.
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