Perpetual 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. Perpetual pavements are becoming popular with transportation agencies seeking to reduce lifecycle costs, since maintenance is limited to periodic resurfacing. The long-term benefits of reduced maintenance and reduced traffic control outweigh the slightly higher initial cost of construction.
The Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment (ORITE) is hosting the International Conference on Perpetual Pavement 2009, which will provide a forum for agencies who have constructed perpetual pavements to share their experiences and for those who are considering construction to gain from these experiences. The conference emphasis will be on life cycle analysis, sustainability, and maintenance, though other topics relating to perpetual pavements will be welcomed. Topics will include: design verification and calibration, modeling, instrumentation, construction, and monitoring. Information provided at this conference will promote the proper design and construction of perpetual pavements.
