VDOT Spec Changes for 2018 – Little Changes
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Each year, VDOT reviews the specification changes for the upcoming paving season. At the Fall Asphalt Conference, held October 2 and 3, VDOT’s Director of Contracts Don Silies and Assistant State Materials Engineer Rob Crandol reviewed the minimal changes. For the non-materials-related specifications, most changes are related to Section 512 – Maintenance of Traffic. Some of the highlighted changes are the allowance of hydro-blasting to remove existing pavement markings, flagger service will be paid by the hour using contractor provided unit rates, and radio communication is required between flaggers and pilot vehicles.
In the asphalt materials area, changes are concentrated on adjusting the design gyrations to 50 for the SM-9.0 mixes – same as the other dense graded surfaces mixes. The error in the Asphalt Treated Open Graded Drainage Layer material was corrected. The specification called for a PG 64E-22. That was corrected to be a PG 64H-22 binder. For 2018, SMA will not be eligible for asphalt content and gradation consistency bonus – only dense graded mixes will be eligible. Lastly, no changes will be made to the field density bonus program. The asphalt industry requested the minimum traffic level from 5,000 to 2,500 vehicles per day; VDOT has decided to analyze the 2017 density date before making a final decision.
Both presentations on specification changes can be found on the VAA website under the 2017 Fall Asphalt Conference –Tuesday Afternoon – General Session.
