A comparison of the performance of asphalt and concrete pavements at adjacent intersections on Route 40 in Maryland came to an end during the summer. After six years of service, cracked Portland Concrete Cement (PCC) pavement had to be removed and replaced with hot mix asphalt (HMA). The HMA intersection built at the same time is still in excellent condition.

The idea of comparing the performance of asphalt and concrete at adjacent intersections began in 1994, when the Maryland Department of Transportation was faced with the challenge of improving two heavily trafficked Maryland intersections. Both the asphalt and concrete industries were asked to see what could be done to provide a durable surface that would stand up to heavily loaded trucks stopping at the traffic signals. Each industry was given an intersection to design and construct. The HMA industry laid a Superpave asphalt pavement at the intersection of U.S. Route 40 and Maryland 213.

Samuel Miller, deputy chief engineer, Office of Materials & Research, of the State Highway Administration said, “Rutting occurred frequently prior to the repaving due to a high volume of heavy trucks stopping at the signalized interchange.” Miller reported that 8-in. (20 cm) of old pavement was milled up, and 15,000 sq. yds. (13,500 sq m) of Superpave was laid in 11 nights, with little disruption to traffic.

The concrete industry laid a PCC pavement at an adjacent intersection, U.S. 40 and Landing Road. The concrete paving contractor, working for 12 days, with round-the-clock lane closures, constructed 1,800 sq. yds. (1,620 sq m) of PCC pavement.

Six years later, at U.S. 40 and Landing Road, at least three-quarters of the concrete slabs were extremely cracked. The State Highway Administration determined that the only solution was to completely remove the PCC pavement and replace it with Superpave. T.C. Simons Inc., Fallston, MD, removed the cracked PCC whitetopping in less than 24 hours at the U.S. 40 and Landing Road intersection and replaced it with HMA.

“With the high truck volume on this heavily traveled intersection, the flexibility and durability of hot mix asphalt will eliminate the cracking problem of the past,” said Scott Kiebler of T.C. Simons Inc.

At this time, the original Superpave project at U.S. Route 40 and Maryland 213 is still performing well. It was less expensive ($36.11/square yard to concrete’s cost of $104.25/square yard), quicker to construct — it took PCC paving operations twice the time to do one-eighth the work of the HMA paving operations — and remains more durable. The hot mix asphalt pavement is still going strong today under increasing traffic volume.

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