APE April 2021 | Page 8

COVER STORY | ADVERTORIAL
Crafco ’ s rout / seal configuration has resulted in sealant service performance in asphalt pavement for 7 + years – the longest in the industry !
The Crafco Pavement Router effectively and efficiently creates sealant crack reservoirs
heavy traffic . Failing to stay on top of preventive maintenance creates hazardous conditions that can precipitate indirect expenses and cause entire road systems to fall into disrepair . Between 2009 and 2011 , according to a 2014 report by Smart Growth America , about 45 percent of transportation spending across all states went to repairs , while 55 percent funded new roads . Also , in the last decade , the percentage of roads categorized as in “ poor condition ” grew from 14 to 20 percent , while the number of roads in “ good condition ” barely moved . “ When considering existing roads comprise 99 percent of all roads in the country ( new roads are just one percent ), state DOTs may need to reprioritize their spending toward maintenance , even if there are no ribbon cutting ceremonies for repair jobs ,” says Roger Miller of Smart Growth America .
CRACK SEALING
In the absence of treatment , the crack evolves to cupping and lipping . Before long what was once a very treatable crack has developed into a full-blown pothole . Crack sealing is the most common pavement preservation option with the highest-benefit-to-cost ratio . Studies show a dollar spent on early preventive maintenance , such as crack sealing , can delay or eliminate $ 6 to $ 14 in future rehabilitation costs . When cracks are left untreated , approximately 75 percent will form into potholes within just three years . If crack sealing is done early and often , only 1 percent of cracks will form into potholes within the same length of time .
NCAT STUDY
According to a recent group study conducted by the National Center for
Asphalt Technology , “ crack sealing and filling are cost-effective treatments that provide life-extending benefits when applied to pavements in good , fair and poor conditions .” These treatments consist of applying a highly elastic material into pavement cracks to prevent or reduce the intrusion of water and incompressible materials . The benefits of crack sealing include decreasing further crack deterioration , protecting the pavement structure from moisture damage and ultimately extending the pavement life . To ascertain how much life-extending benefit could be gained from crack sealing and other preservation treatments , the NCAT study , in partnership with MnROAD , applied the construction of full-scale test sections along a two-lane country road and access route to a quarry and asphalt plant . www . callape . com [ 8 ] 1.800.210.5923