In Pennsylvania, Superpave isn’t just for main-line, high-level Interstate highway projects. Last summer, a Pittsburgh-area asphalt contractor was placing Superpave in a local, suburban setting for road improvements related to new residential construction.
There, Shields Asphalt Paving Inc., Valencia, PA, was using a new model 1110 WB asphalt paver from Vogele America Inc. to place Superpave mix in suburban Pittsburgh for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
Shields was widening and resurfacing the Bakerstown/Warrendale Road, placing a leveling course on the existing road, eliminating the high and low spots, and were going over the top of it with 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) of final wearing course.
Shields was placing two 15-ft. (4.6 m) wide lifts using the Vogele America machine.
“The binder course has a top size of 19 mm and is all Superpave,” said Tim Shields, president. The binder or base course was placed 6 in. (15.2 cm) deep. Local conditions dictated a Superpave binder of PG 64-22.
Above the binder course, .5-in. (1.3 cm) leveling course was placed, topped by a 1.5-in. (3.8 cm) wearing course over the entire project.
“The leveling and wearing course was Superpave with top size of 9.5 mm, all produced at our Slippery Rock [PA] hot mix asphalt plant,” Shields said.
As long as it’s at the right temperature, Superpave is simple to work with, said Mike Hancheck, project supervisor, adding the combination of Vogele America 1110 WB and Carlson EZ-Screed was just right for placing Superpave.
’It does a good job on Superpave mixes,” Hancheck said. “It puts down a nice mat. Everything is uniform and there are no voids. And the bigger screed carries a lot better; it floats, rather than rocks back and forth. The machine’s tow points make it nicer to use; the screed reacts a lot faster. It’s a lot more responsive.”
Also, vibration at the screed made Superpave placement even less problematic.
“The vibration tightens the mat up and gives a nicer mat,” Hancheck said. “For Superpave, most of the compaction is from the roller, but if you can get some out of the screed it also helps.”
The paver tractor pulling the screed works very well, Hancheck said. “We haven’t had any trouble with it. The main screed is nice because it has 9-in. wings, and when paving you don’t have all that extra weight hanging on the outside, and you have more structure on the main screed.”
This model has a 10-ft. (3 m) main screed with 26-in. (66 cm) base, with one 5-ft. (1.5 m) right side, and one 4-ft. (1.2 m) wing. “We can go out to 19 ft.,” Hancheck said.
Extensions can be added for even more width, useful for shoulder paving.
“This model carries itself a lot better than other pavers because it’s stronger and the wings aren’t as heavy,” he said.
