VAA Virginia Asphalt Fall/Winter 2020

VAASPHALT.ORG 33 AFFILIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT FORTA-FI Makes the Grade in Reflective Crack Resistance Volkert, Inc.—Delivering the Future of Infrastructure In pursuit of more innovative and economi- cal ways to maintain roads subject to distresses, the Virginia Department of Transportation, along with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute and the Virginia Transportation Research Council, took a look at the benefits of using fiber reinforce- ment. There is a need to delay reflecting cracking in the long term, and FORTA-FI is proving to be a solution. Four laboratory tests were used to deter- mine the cracking resistance of a control SMA, and an SMA modified with FORTA- FI, a high tensile strength synthetic fiber AFFILIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT blend. The tests estimated a Cracking Test index 9 (CTindex), critical strain energy release rate (Jc), Flexibility Index (FI), and Cracking Propagation Rate (CPR). Results obtained from the laboratory tests indi- cated that the mixture modified with FORTA-FI synthetic fibers was four times more crack resistant than the control SMA mixture without fiber. If you could reduce cracking with one product and save money—why not? Read more at www.forta-fi.com/vaa Transportation engineering is the heart of what Volkert does. Volkert’s civil engineers design roadway, bridge, interstate, complex interchange, and multi-modal improvement projects in tandemwith traffic engineering in addressing and resolving challenges to improve operational efficiency and safely accommodate multi-modal traffic. Their landscape architects provide streetscape and urban design to create a unique sense of place and community. Volkert’s construction engineering and inspection (CEI) department provide the full spectrum of construction management and inspection services for contractors and public entities. As an owner’s representative and advocate, Volkert manages and inspects construction activities to ensure the project’s budget, schedule, andquality standards aremet. Volkert’s bridge safety inspection teams conduct routine, hands-on/in-depth, initial/ inventory, interim, and emergency element- level inspections of bridges of all sizes and complexity. In Virginia, Volkert has inspectedmore than 5,000 bridges and 7,000 ancillary structures in the past nine years. One of Volkert’s recent projects is US Route 15/29 Design-Build Improvements at Vint Hill in Fauquier County. Nicknamed the “Cut the Hills” project, it included one mile of roadway construction and removed two successive hills that were causing sight visibility and safety issues. Volkert served as LeadDesigner andQuality AssuranceManager on the Chemung Contracting Design-Build Team. Volkert’s design services included the development of roadway Volkert is a multi-disciplinary transportation engineering firm founded in 1925 and consistently ranked in ENR’s top 100 design firms. The firm oper- ates in 21 states and District of Columbia and has 1,100 employees corporate- wide, with 150 employees in the Mid-Atlantic region serving state agencies, local governments, and private industry clients since 1957. design, storm drainage, environmental permitting, utility relocation, and traffic engineering. Volkert also provided construc- tion quality assurance, inspection, stakeholder coordination, and public involvement services. More than 7,800 tons of asphalt, 5,000 tons of aggregate material, and 4,000 cubic yards of select material was placed during the reconstruction. Photo credit: Chemung Contracting