According to a report issued by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the results of a 2011 project to rehabilitate a southbound section of I-81, near Staunton, Va., showed a conclusively positive outcome of the unique use of multiple forms of recycled materials to repair and recreate road surfaces.
The 3.66-mile section of I-81 was chosen for this pavement recycling project in the VDOT’s effort to gain experience with the laboratory aspects of recycled road materials, as well as the practical application of such a recycling project, and also as a litmus test to monitor an entire rehabilitated stretch of road over an extended period of time.
The project utilized three forms of recycling process simultaneously: full-depth reclamation, which consisted of a combination of hydraulic cement and lime kiln dust; and cold in-place recycling and cold central-plant recycling, both of which used hydraulic cement and foamed asphalt.
Field performance tests have now demonstrated that the section of pavement rehabilitated by the three recycling methods continues to perform well after nearly three years of high volume interstate traffic. The study from which these results derived further recommends that VDOT pursue recycled road materials projects where it is able and where such projects are deemed to see success.
