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Features

Warm mix/cold climates
February 28, 2012
MeadWestvaco (MWV) says that its Evotherm warm mix asphalt technology is now approved by the Colorado Department of Transportation (Colorado DOT) for use in statewide paving projects. The warm mix asphalt system can be used in any traditional hot-mix asphalt application, but with significantly lower temperatures required for paving application. This feature is particularly useful in Colorado's high altitude paving projects and has been tested extensively.
Warm asphalt - emission and energy saving
February 28, 2012
Warm mix asphalt is said to offer many benefits including fewer emissions and energy savings, but further research is needed to "validate its expected performance and added value" claims one organisation. Patrick Smith reports
High production asphalt pavers deliver performance
February 28, 2012
US style high production pavers are seeing key performance gains - Mike Woof reports. Exhaust emissions regulations and ever tougher safety requirements have pushed manufacturers to develop new and improved pavers aimed at the US market. The rivalry between manufacturers of these machines has also intensified. European manufacturers have developed their own US style pavers in recent years. BOMAG, Dynapac and Vögele have all designed machines using the benefit of their US engineering input in a bid to target
New asphalt paving technologies boost performance
February 28, 2012
Sophisticated new paving technologies are coming to market that will help boost quality and performance. New paving technologies are being introduced to meet the differing demands of both North American and European customers. Although North American and European paving techniques do vary, there are also some control technologies being introduced that will help quality for both approaches.
Novel twin layer paving technology saves time
February 28, 2012
German paver specialist Vögele reports that market acceptance is growing for its novel twin layer paving technology
State of the art tunnel a conservation triumph
February 28, 2012
The opening of a 1.8km tunnel in southern England is designed to ease traffic bottlenecks in an environmentally sensitive area. Patrick Smith reports
Cost-saving compact twin layer asphalt paving
February 28, 2012
Twin-layer paving offers high quality, long lasting road surfaces to be constructed. Paver manufacturer Dynapac is one of the pioneers of the twin-layer paving technique, which it calls Compactasphalt. According to Dynapac this method offers major benefits to contractors and clients alike as roads surfaced using this technique last longer and are cheaper to maintain. To ensure contractors have maximum utilisation of their machines, Dynapac offers a modular paver system that can be operated using the convent
New asphalt compaction technologies boost quality
February 28, 2012
More sophisticated compaction technologies are now coming to market, offering a wide range of benefits to users
Develop the Silk Roads, boost economic growth
February 28, 2012
Tony Pearce, honorary life member and former director-general of IRF Geneva, recalls the history of the Silk Roads, highlights their continued economic relevance and introduces IRF's active long-term commitment to their rehabilitation. The Silk Roads had their origins in a Chinese military mission in 138BC to purchase horses in Central Asia's Fergana Valley that were reputed to run so fast that they sweated blood. When General Chang Ch'ien reached Fergana, now in Uzbekistan, he found that the fabled horses
Solutions to road user charging
February 28, 2012
In this second of a two-part article, Jack Opiola, demonstrates that the imposition of a government provided GPS mandate to levy mileage tax could be eliminated by offering motorists transparent choices regarding their manner of compliance. The key to a mileage tax system without a GPS mandate is through offering motorists choices. Most motorists are consumers who are comfortable with selecting products and services from among options available in the marketplace. A mileage tax can be built upon this realit
Eurocode regulations assure conformity
February 28, 2012
A Europe without borders is an attractive prospect for the construction and design industries, claim supporters of Eurocodes. For all companies involved in the construction and infrastructure sectors, Swedish company Trelleborg for example, new Eurocode regulations will have decisive importance. So says Professor Haig Gulvanessian, one of the experts involved in developing the codes, which are a series of 10 European Standards (EN 1990-EN 1999) providing a common approach for the design of buildings and oth
Europe's roads need innovation and research
February 28, 2012
FEHRL's fifth SERRP is set to drive road transport into the 21st century
Tackling the UK's traffic congestion
February 28, 2012
The biggest problem on UK roads is congestion, and there is no shortage of ideas as to how it should be tackled. Patrick Smith reports. Congestion (and how to relieve it), along with safety, are among the top priorities facing those responsible for looking after the UK's roads. Road pricing, car-share lanes, greener vehicle initiatives and alternative methods of transport such as buses, trams and rail are all part of the approach, but prior to the current economic climate the nation's love affair with the c
IREF fundraising campaign gains momentum
February 28, 2012
In March 1991, the International Road Educational Foundation (IREF), through the leadership of Dana Low, John Gehrett and Marion Dietrich, among others, established the Future Fund, an endowment-style funding mechanism to support scholarship awards for IRF Fellows.
Software tools aid construction, reduce costs
February 28, 2012
Integrated construction software offers an effective planning solution - *Mark Nichols writes. In a world where resources are limited, 20 year designing and building in a sustainable way is more critical than ever. By employing today's software tools it is possible to reduce the total cost of construction of a new highway, while reducing operating costs and environmental impacts. The path to achieving the greatest gains is to take a holistic approach to the plan, design, construct and operate process from t