An Overview of Highway
Surface Mix Construction in
Atlantic Canada
2006 CUPGA Meeting.
Charlottetown, PEI
Provincial Highway Inventory
Prince Edward Island
 Primary Highway = 60%
 Secondary Highway = 40%

Newfoundland
 Primary Highway = 50%
 Secondary Highway = 50%


New Brunswick
 Primary Highway = 50%
 Secondary Highway = 50%
Nova Scotia
 Primary Highway = 20%
 Secondary Highway = 80%
Highway Inventory
Primary Roads vs. Secondary Roads
Percent

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Prince
Newfoundland
Edward Island
Labrador
New
Brunswick
Nova Scotia
2006 Tonnage Breakdown



Prince Edward Island
 New Construction = 0
 Rehabilitation = 250,000
Newfoundland
 New Construction = 137,000
 Rehabilitation = 413,000
New Brunswick
 New Construction = 183,000
 Rehabilitation = 427,000
Nova Scotia
 New Construction = 66,000
 Rehabilitation = 949,000
Tonnage Breakdown
New Construction vs. Rehabilitation
1200000
Tonnage

1000000
800000
600000
400000
200000
0
Prince Edward
Island
Newfoundland
Labrador
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Average Asphalt Cost
Per Tonne Placed
Asphalt Pavement
Average Cost Per Tonne
$80
$75
$70
$65
$60
$55
$50
$45
$40
Prince Edward
Island
Newfoundland
Labrador
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
2006 Budgets
Capitol vs. Paving
Prince Edward Island



2006 Capitol Budget vs. Paving Allocation
Newfoundland



Total Capitol Budget = $20m
Paving Operations = $10.5m
Total Capitol Budget = $95m
Paving Operations = $70
New Brunswick


$250
Total Capitol Budget = $243m
Paving Operations = $90m
$200
(Millions)

$150
$100
$50
$0

Nova Scotia

Total Capitol Budget = $237m

Paving Operations = $186m
Prince Edward
Island
Newfoundland
Labrador
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
The Move Towards Performance Based
End Product Specifications
Percent
Performance Graded Specifications
vs.
Method Specification Projects
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Prince Edward
Island
Newfoundland
Labrador
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Overview of PEI Operations







Maintenance challenges related to
clay rich sub-grade conditions.
Asphalt aggregate dependent upon
offshore supply from NS,NB and
NL.
Previously a pioneer in the use of
soil cement in road construction.
Marshall design method used with
no immediate plans to change.
Standard Marshall mixes are based
on a19 mm aggregate base coarse
and a 9.5 mm aggregate surface
coarse gradation.
Typically specify PG 58-28 asphalt
cement.
Very limited use of polymer
modified asphalt cement.
Overview of NL Operations







Marshall design method utilized with no
current plans to move toward other
pavement design methods.
PG 58-28 performance graded asphalt
cement used on all mixes.
19mm base mixes and 12.5mm surface
coarse mixes typically used
Utilizing “performance based” price
adjustments for smoothness.
Due to geographic diversity mix
challenges exist due to the wide variety
and quality of aggregate types.
Aggregate breakdown and stripping
mixes are problems. Liquid anti-strip
agents commonly used.
NL specifications used to allow use of
OM (Other Material) which was “just
about anything you had”
Overview of NB Operations








Most surface coarse mixes designed to a
9.5mm Nominal Superpave gradation.
Superpave design method utilized in
formulization of surface coarse mixes.
PG 58-28 asphalt binder typically used for
new construction. PG 64-28 or PG 70-28
used for some highly trafficked climbing
lanes.
Additional $3.00/tonne paid for use of
transfer vehicle.
“High Speed” laser road profilers widely
utilized to determine smoothness.
NB central laboratory is fully AASHTO
certified.
NB placed the first Stone Mastic asphalt
pavement sections in Atlantic Canada.
Conducted a number of “Cold In-Place
Recycle” projects over the past 2 years..
Overview of NS Operations






Marshall design method utilized with
19mm, 12.5mm and 9.5mm mixes
specified.
PG 58-28 binder used for typical paving
operations. PG 64-28 used on high
traffic passing lanes or ramps.
Successful wide spread adoption of
performance based “End Product
Specifications”.
Development of Consultant based
AASHTO certified Quality Assurance
program.
Conducted AASHTO certified PG Binder
testing for past five years.
Material transfer vehicles commonly
used to minimize mix segregation and
improve ride quality.
Overview of NS Operations
Completion of a “Rigid vs. Flexible
Pavement” provincial wide feasibility
study.
 Development of a “Sustainable Green
Paving Practice” study for the Nova
Scotia Department of Energy
comparing traditional and recycle
paving methodologies relative to
typical “life cycle costs” plus “potential
carbon credit” generation through
measured hydrocarbon emission
reduction.
 Ongoing development and
implementation of a performance
based specification for “Cold In Place
Recycling”. NSTPW have
commissioned over 30 projects using
both “partial” and “full depth”
construction methods utilized both
emulsified and foamed asphalt binder.

Where Are We Going?
 Prince Edward Island
 Continuation with existing program
structure.
 Some additional use of Polymer Modified
Asphalt Mixes in high traffic areas.
 Newfoundland / Labrador
 Continuation with Marshall Design method.
 Expanded use of asphalt ignition ovens for
asphalt cement extractions. Contractor is
responsible for the purchase and
maintenance of the equipment.
 Smoothness specification being
challenged by contractors.
Where Are We Going?
 New Brunswick




Widespread adoption of Superpave mixes.
More “Stone Mastic” test sections in heavily trafficked areas..
Interest in “Warm Asphalt” Pavements application.
Continued use of “Cold In-Place” recycle methodologies..
 Nova Scotia







Continued use of AASHTO certified consultants to provide Quality
Assurance testing services.
Consideration to moving to Superpave design method.
Continuation with “Cold In-Place” recycle rehabilitation using both
Full and Partial depth applications.
Development of a new smoothness specification for asphalt
pavements.
Interest in “Warm Pavement Technology”
Adoption of “High Speed laser road profilers”. Shadow testing in
2007.
Development of a formal Provincial Pavement Management
Program.
Thank you for your
attention.
Questions?
2006 CUPGA Meeting.
Charlottetown, PEI