Category: Safety

The J-Band Blog

Building Better Longitudinal Joints: How VRAM Enhances Notched-Wedge Paving

Paving a notched-wedge joint for traffic safety and reinforcing with VRAM
We all know how important and difficult it is to consistently achieve adequate density at longitudinal construction joints. These joints are typically the first place a pavement begins to crack or pothole, largely due to higher air voids compared to the rest of the mat. Forward-thinking agencies are increasingly turning...
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Montana Highway 200 Trench Mill and Fill: Slot Paving Made Durable with a VRAM

Trench mill and fill, now with VRAM sprayed before the slot paving
The Problem  Miles of existing roads are plagued with longitudinal joint distress, especially if they have milled rumble strips. Centerline joint distress often needs re-paving far sooner than the rest of the pavement. There is a need for a better longitudinal joint repair system.  The Current Practice for Repairing Centerline...
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Preserving Rumble Strips: Real-World Reviews of VRAM for Rumble Strip Longevity

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Rumble strips play a critical role in keeping drivers alert and roadways safe. However, they are typically constructed over or near longitudinal joints, the part of the pavement that is already vulnerable to water intrusion and early deterioration. To reinforce rumble strips, their pavement foundation—the longitudinal joint area—needs to be...
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NRRA: Materials-Based Methods to Improve Rumble Strip Durability

Installation of Sinusoidal Rumble Strips (”Mumble Strips”) in Wood County, WI
In 2023, the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) issued a call for innovation for preventative roadway maintenance and this project answered: Materials-Based Methods to Improve Rumble Strip Durability.   The team of researchers behind this study began with the following questions: Does the installation of milled rumble strips in new pavement...
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Discoveries on Low-Noise Rumble Strips 

Sinusoidal rumble strip in the center of a road
In a time when drivers are more distracted than ever, rumble strips are a necessity to save motorists from head-on collisions and road departure crashes. The Federal Highway Administration reports that, “milled centerline rumble strips provide statistically significant reductions in injury crashes of 38-50% on rural two-lane roads and 37-91%...
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Marathon County Highway Department Chooses Long-Lasting Safety

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The Marathon County Highway Department in central Wisconsin is hard at work maintaining over 600 miles of highways. Their commitment to a safe and high-quality transportation system has led them to leverage innovative asphalt products and technologies to achieve roadway longevity.   The county planned improvement and resurfacing of County Trunk...
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