Perpetual pavements, designed for a lifespan of 40 years, are becoming popular with transportation agencies seeking to reduce lifecycle costs. These pavements contain a surface layer of high quality hot-mix asphalt that resists rutting and traffic wear, a Superpave layer of high modulus asphalt that also resists rutting, and a fatigue resistant bottom layer. Since maintenance is limited to periodic resurfacing, the long-term benefits of reduced maintenance and traffic control outweigh the slightly higher initial cost of construction.
On Sept. 30-Oct. 2, the 2009 International Conference on Perpetual Pavement (ICPP) will bring together over 30 experts to Columbus, Ohio, to discuss topics on life-cycle analysis, case histories, optimal design and construction approaches for asphalt pavements. (Register at http://www.ohio.edu/icpp/) The conference venue is the Hilton Columbus at Easton adjacent to restaurants and shops in the fashionable Easton Town Center and within five miles of the Port Columbus International Airport.
Over 30 papers will be delivered on topics germane to perpetual pavement. Keynote presentations will be provided by governmental and private-sector leaders. The conference includes a field trip to the Ohio University Accelerated Pavement Load Facility in Lancaster. Companies and organizations will exhibit their products and information. The Asphalt Pavement Alliance’s Annual Perpetual Pavement awards will be presented to recognize outstanding DOT projects. Attendees will receive 8.75 Professional Development Hours. The conference, organized by the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment at Ohio University, is in cooperation with ASCE Central Ohio Section, APA, FHWA, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, NAPA, NCAT, NYDOT and ODOT.
The 2006 ICPP hosted 150 attendees from 13 foreign countries, ranging from Canada to Kazakhstan, and from 33 states, including representatives from 19 state departments of transportation. ICPP 2009 will allow attendees to catch up with developments in this fast-moving field.
