Thin pavements expected to last longer, save money
If thin is in, then the new pavements being developed by researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) are all that, and then some.
Instead of the traditional two-inch overlays that are typical for road rehabilitation, TTI researchers have dared to go much thinner — developing pavements that are one inch in height and, in one case, a mere half inch high. Because these new pavements are made with high-quality stones and polymer-modified asphalt, they are expected to last longer and require less maintenance. As a result, state, county and city officials are jumping on the thin overlay bandwagon in order to save taxpayers money and inconvenience and, at the same time, provide smoother rides. (Read More)