About this project:
A Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane, (VRAM), project took place on October 27th in Gallatin County, Illinois. This project on Mainstreet covered the 3,600 feet stretch from Murphy Street in Ridgeway to Shawneetown Road in New Haven. VRAM was specified for application to the centerline joint with a width of 18”. (Note: in Illinois VRAM is referred to as LJS).
This was an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) project.
The applicator for this project was Road Fabrics Inc (RFI).
The prime paving contractor was E.T. Simonds.
VRAM application began in the morning of the 27th of October. As with most centerline applications, VRAM was sprayed at 18” wide. VRAM was applied over a recently untacked and milled surface. Once the VRAM was successfully applied, the paving operation took place.
VRAM: A Proven Track Record of Protecting Centerline Joints in 23 States
VRAM, a Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane, helps ensure that the driving public has safer, longer-lasting roads. Experience shows roads treated with VRAM will last 3-5 years longer than those not treated.
Applying VRAM to the centerline joint will protect the most permeable part of the road from air and water, which will damage the pavement as they work down into untreated pavements.
J-Band® is Asphalt Materials’ VRAM and unlike other methods is a materials approach to fixing the age-old problem of longitudinal joint issues. It is a highly polymer-modified asphalt cement that is placed along the location of the longitudinal joint before paving. Below is a video explaining how J-Band works:
You can also learn more about Asphalt Material’s mix application product line AMIBIND™, by visiting the 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 widths. It should be noted that 18” is a typical application width for centerline applications.
J-Band® is a VRAM product of Asphalt Materials, Inc. that was created in the labs of The Heritage Research Group.
J-Band®, CCAP ®, and T-BOND ®are registered trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc. AMIBIND™, AMIBOND™, AMICYCLE™, AMIGUARD™, AMISEAL™ are trademarks of Asphalt Materials, Inc.
