I-10 Westbound
Right Lane

Asphalt-Rubber Outlasts the Rest

Rubber test sections built as part of the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) in 1995 are the only remaining sections in service today. Special Pavement Sections (SPS) containing Superpave mixes, Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) with cellulose and "vestoplast" did not survive the tenth year of hot temperatures and heavy loading on the West bound Interstate 10 between mileposts 122 and 112. See the inset for test section details. Recent heavy rains in the Phoenix area caused the badly cracked and fatigued test sections to fall apart creating a rough riding and unsafe driving surface. They were covered with an emergency repair surface treatment in early 2005. However, the test sections with Asphalt-Rubber remain with very little cracking in the ? inch thin A-R friction course over a sturdy SMA and virtually crack free in the 3 inch A-R gap graded mix. See photos from March 2005. Asphalt-rubber proves again that it is the best choice for pavement preservation.