The Future

We need to educate the people at all levels who are engaged in the design, construction, consulting and maintenance of our pavement infrastructure.  By education, we mean that it is necessary to understand not only specifications, mix design and quality control but also how these result in a good pavement.  Just because we follow specifications and mix design criteria as well as exercise good quality control does not necessarily result in a good pavement.  There are a number of infinite criteria which can result in good or bad pavements.  Therefore, education by competant people of those engaged in our field is absolutely essential.  I, Peter Sontowski, can provide such competant education service.  My Global Asphalt Technology Education Service (GATES) will ensure that. 

It is also essential that we engage in research in the field of asphalt paving technology.  The research must be the kind that will result in better and longer lasting pavements.  The two components in asphalt concrete are 
1) crushed aggregate, and 2) paving-grade asphalt cement.  A dense-graded asphalt concrete paving mix has certain advantages over superpave and vice versa.  Neither mix is superior to the other.  Research into the chemistry and structure of asphalt cement has its limits as well.  The five major chemical groups composing asphalt cement are:  1) asphaltenes, 2) nitrogen bases, 3) first acidafins, 4) second acidafins and, 5) parafins.  These groups have been shown to influence the behaviour of asphalt cement.  They influence such properties as penetration, viscosity and oxidation.  Further, a breakdown of some or all of the five chemical groups would yield nothing useful and would be a waste of research funds.  We know from our research that it is the nitrogen base which change to asphaltenes when the asphalt cement is subjected to oxidation in the laboratory or in service.  It is mostly they which cause age-hardening during the service life of an asphalt concrete pavement.  Literally thousands of researchers the world over have spent multi millions of dollars on research resulting in only marginally better pavements.  In the end, conventional pavements, whether they are dense-graded or gap-graded, such as superpave will fail in relatively short order.  In the past, I have designed hundreds of paving mixes.  Some of these were intended for specific and specialized applications.  Thus, it is not surprising that some of these were gap-graded.  However, I did not call them superpave.  It was surprising when these gap-graded paving mixes were passed off as "superpave" a few years ago.  I have also designed and developed porous asphalt concrete mixes before anyone else even thought of them (1986). 

My extensive research spanning almost 45 years has resulted in the development of the "Everlast Pavement System".  These pavements have been in service for nearly 20 years.  They have proven to outlast all others by a significant margin.  This margin can be projected to be more than several decades. During this time, very little, if any, maintenance will be required.  In addition, the "Everlast Pavements" provide greater safety to the motoring public because they are superior in every way.  They almost completely prevent:  1) reflective cracking, 2) delamination of successive lifts, 3) pothole formation and, 4) rutting among others.  Every town, city, county, state and province should have "Everlast Pavements" in their future.  The result will be significantly reduced maintenance costs, fewer lawsuits by the motoring public, less concern for adequate funding and more satisfaction because they have the ultimate pavement system.

It boggles the mind when talk turns to funding for our steadily deteriorating transportation infrastructure.  The amount of money we receive and the amount that is required to maintain, rehabilitate and reconstruct our aging infrastructure are like day and night.  Our cities, counties, state and provincial governments require enormous amounts of money which just is not available.  The financial crisis of 2008 will result in even less money being available.  Reading about it and talking to financial experts indicates that it will be 2 to 5 years before the crisis is behind us.  Many cities, towns and counties are either bankrupt or are very close to it.  Even former rich states like California are near bankruptcy.  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the termination of 20,000 government jobs and slashing the pay of 200,000 others (fiscal 2009).  Further announcements by the Governor indicate worse things to come.  It is anticipated that the worst hit will be cities, towns and counties.  In a state such as Illinois there are 139,000 miles of roads of which the state owns 16,000 miles or 12%.  The bulk of the road system belongs to cities, towns and counties of the state of Illinois.  It is not hard to see that the financial burden is surely on the shoulder of these jurisdictions.  They are the roads that show the greatest distress.  The time has come to take a different approach, one that can result in longer lasting pavements.  The "Everlast Paving System" ensures that the pavements constructed in this way are "everlasting" or close to it.

In the future, we will be faced with the prospect of diminishing resources.  This applies to the availability of the right aggregate as well as to the paving-grade asphalt cement.  This will certainly result in higher commodity prices.  The price increases of asphaltic crude oil is reflected in a higher price for liquid asphalt cement.  Serious thought must be given to the availability of dark asphaltic crude.  Everyone in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of highways, streets and roads should give a lot of consideration to all the aspects in this section.  I, Peter Sontowski, have the knowledge and experience to advise those in this business who should be aware of  the importance of the statements made in this section.  It should also be self-evident from the above that longer lasting pavements are a must, if we want to preserve and construct our transportation infrastructure.  For this reason, it is extremely important to consider the "Everlast Pavement System" in your future.