David E. Newcomb Russel Lenz

Cindy Estakhri

2010 $337 million out of $2 billion allocated to PM Much of PM goes to seal coats To maximize value, alternative binders for seal coats

introduced Tier System

Three tiers based on AADT Binders intended to have similar performance Contractors allowed to choose cost-effective

alternative

Tiers

Seal Coat Seasons

Type Grade

• Within tier, select two or more available binders • Select aggregate allowed for use with binders

Tier I Asphalt-Rubber or Heavy Polymer Modification

Tier II Polymer Modified AC or Polymer Modified

Emulsion Tier III

AC or Emulsion Winter

Emulsion or Cutback

Select one binder among alternatives within tier OR select binder from higher traffic tier

Select aggregate from among alternatives In the event of binder shortage for one

alternative, may switch to another designated alternative without change order

Objective Gather experience and opinions on Tier System TxDOT personnel Contractors Suppliers

Follow-on study to examine performance and cost Scope

Gather opinions and experience Summarize Draw conclusions and make recommendations

Personnel District Engineers Area Engineers Maint/Operations Designers Materials Engineers Planners Seal Coat Supervisors Maintenance Supervisors

Five Contractors Brannan Construction Cox Paving Jones Brothers Lipham Construction Clark Construction

Material Suppliers – All binder types represented Cox Paving Martin Asphalt Pelican Refining Valero Wright Asphalt

SAVED $33 MILLION OVER 2.5 YEARS Use of the Alternative Binder Selection on DWP only. Consider waiving the tier system where decision is

justified. Use tiers in individual projects when possible. Continue to monitor savings from tier system. Change traffic characterization. Develop generic specifications. Encourage the development of a good winter binder. Sponsor tech transfer including:

webinars and/or workshops newsletter

Contractors Overall satisfaction with one opposite opinion. Eliminate aggregate portion of the table. Allow districts to engineer individual projects rather

than requiring the table on all projects. Encourage preconstruction pavement evaluation and

preparation. Update Manual to include the table discussions of binders and applications expand on seal coat inspection

Suppliers Tier system spurred competition - a positive

experience. Educate TxDOT on trouble-shooting seal coat

pavement problems. Tier system has not impacted business practices in

terms of product demand or the efficiency. Winter sealing operations should be avoided unless

immediately covered. If necessary, more attention to weather monitoring and construction.

Most believe system should be opened to as many binders as possible within a given tier.

More education Change traffic characterization Keep using the tier system on district-wide programs Update seal coat manual Develop standards for pavement preparation ahead of seal

coat application. Allow flexibility for particular binder in some

circumstances. Use tier system on individual projects where a specific

binder is not required. Develop a generic binder specification. Remove aggregate requirements Initiate research to develop a good winter binder. Initiate research to develop seal coat test methods.