This is MDOT’s sixth PPA award since the program began in 2001.
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) announced today that the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has won a 2021 Perpetual Pavement Award: By Performance (PPA) for a 3.25-mile section of U.S. Highway 82 from Oktibbeha County Line to 0.5 miles east of Catalpa Creek Bridge in Lowndes County. Original construction of this four-lane highway was completed in 1978. This is MDOT’s sixth PPA award since the program began in 2001.
To qualify for this prestigious award, a pavement must be at least 35 years old and never experienced a structural failure. The average interval between the resurfacing of the winning pavement must be no less than 13 years. The pavement must demonstrate the characteristics expected from long-life asphalt pavements: excellence in design, quality in construction and value for the traveling public. Engineers at the National Center for Asphalt Technology evaluated the nominations and validated the winners.
The award-winning section of U.S. 82 was opened to traffic over 43 years ago. The original construction consisted of 6 inches of lime treated material, 10 inches of an asphalt treated layer and a 3-inch asphalt surface.
This four-lane highway currently has a current daily traffic count of 22,800 vehicles totaling 12.8 million equivalent single-axle loads dating back to 1983.
As the years between resurfacing have averaged 13.7 years, this section of U.S. 82 meets the criteria for a PPA and has served the traveling public in the state well since 1978. MDOT will be honored by Mississippi Asphalt Pavement Association and presented with an engraved crystal obelisk.
“The Mississippi Department of Transportation is very honored and pleased to be recognized with this Perpetual Pavement Award,” said Tom King, Mississippi Transportation Commission Chair. “This section of US 82 in Lowndes County has needed only minimal maintenance in its life-span. The work our engineers, partners and contractors continue to deliver shows the quality and efficiency of their dedication to Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure. We constantly evaluate and refine the materials we use every day to increase the longevity of our infrastructure. At MDOT we strive to make the most of every dollar we get, and this highway is a testament to that commitment.”
“One key indicator of quality in construction is a smooth, long-life pavement,” said Amy Miller, P.E., National Director of the APA. “Long-life asphalt pavements serve the community, reduce the money needed for maintenance, and conserve raw materials, ultimately leading to a truly sustainable structure that exemplifies the triple bottom line. Asphalt roads can be engineered to last indefinitely with only routine maintenance and periodic surface renewal. Perpetual pavements use fewer natural resources and offer road owners and users what they want most – an economical, smooth pavement that serves the community for decades.”
The APA is a coalition of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the Asphalt Institute, and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations. The APA’s mission is to establish asphalt as the preferred choice for quality, performance and the environment.
Press Release
6/7/2022
Magnolia Tribune
