About this project:
A road construction project utilizing a Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane (VRAM) took place on September 23rd through the 24th with the Washtenaw County Road Commission in Washtenaw County, Michigan.
This was a County Project.
Pavement Maintenance System applied VRAM to multiple joints on Packard Road with a CimLine machine. PMS shot 5 joints on the night of the 23rd.
The Prime Paving Contractor was Cadillac Asphalt.
The Applicator was Pavement Maintenance System.
VRAM application began at around 10 P.M. at Carpenter Road heading west. The band width for this project was targeted at 18″ wide, and had 2″ fine graded 5EML Michigan Mix.
Asphalt Paving Operations
The asphalt paving operations began in the early afternoon the following day. The project began on the east end. Cadillac used a broom truck to dry and clear the pavement.
The paving equipment on site for this project consisted of:
- A CAT Grade Control Paver
- A Hamm HD 120i steel drum roller
- A CAT CB15 steel drum roller
The Hamm roller acted as the breakdown roller. It operated from middle out away from joint. The joint did not get rolled until the second paving pass was underway.
The paving of the road came to a successful close, and the project ended later that day!
VRAM Helps State and Local Agencies Achieve the DOT’s Strategic Objectives
Agencies are now being asked to build more resilient and sustainable transportation systems to benefit and protect communities. VRAM can help achieve these objectives. VRAM can help improve the resilience of at-risk infrastructure by helping build longer-lasting, safer roads. Historical data from previous VRAM projects shows that an investment in protecting the longitudinal joint helps roads last up to 5 years longer and delivers a return on investment of 3 to 5 times its cost.
J-Band® is a VRAM product of Asphalt Materials, Inc. with a long performance track record dating back to 2002. J-Band was created in the labs of The Heritage Research Group in collaboration with state and local agencies and industry experts.
An Indiana DOT life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) showed that an investment of $12.5M in J-Band would result in a $39M in savings (approximately 3:1 ROI).
Applying VRAM to centerline joint protects the most permeable part of the road from air and water intrusion, which damages the pavement as they work down into the pavement.
J-Band® is unlike other methods in that it is a materials approach to fixing the age-old problem of longitudinal joint issues. In contrast to mechanical approaches, J-Band is a highly polymer-modified asphalt cement that is placed along the location of the longitudinal joint before paving with HMA.
To learn more about some of our other products, like our mix application product line AMIBIND™, visit the products page of our website: https://asphalt-materials.com/products/
Editor’s Notes:
VRAM, Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane, is referred to in Illinois as LJS, Longitudinal Joint Sealant.
Centerline joints and longitudinal joints are often used interchangeably in describing the area of the pavement where two sections come together.
Depending on the situation VRAM can be sprayed at different width’s. It should be noted that 18” is a typical application width for centerline applications.
J-Band® and CCAP ® are registered trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc. AMIBIND™, AMIBOND™, AMICYCLE™, AMIGUARD™, AMISEAL™ are trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc.
