Asphalt pavements are a mixture of rocks (called aggregates) and liquid asphalt (called asphalt cement or AC). The aggregates give the pavement structure and strength to stand up to traffic, and the asphalt is the adhesive binder that bonds the aggregates together and holds them in place on the pavement. Asphalt has unique elastic physical properties that allow it to flex and recover under traffic. Because of this, engineers call asphalt roads “flexible pavements,” and cement roads “rigid pavements.” Other than those common info, here are other facts about asphalt and asphalt pavements.
1. Asphalt pavements are the most recycled materials (80 million tons annually) in the United States—more than glass, metal, tires, paper or any other material. We crush and recycle the reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) right back into our mixes every day, making asphalt pavements a truly sustainable product.
2. Asphalt pavement recycling not only conserves our precious natural resources and speeds construction, it also saves American taxpayers over $2.6 billion a year.
3. A Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) study concluded that each $1 billion of federal spending on highway construction generates 28,000 jobs.
4. The infant Moses’ basket was waterproofed with liquid asphalt.
5. The FHWA estimates that each $1 spent on road, highway and bridge improvements results in a payback of $5.20 in a reduced vehicle, road and bridge maintenance costs, reduced delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety and reduced emissions.
6. Engineers estimate that a single vehicle stirs up 4½ pounds of dust into the air when traveling at 30 mph for every mile traveled on an unpaved road.
7. Liquid asphalt was used by ancient Egyptians to embalm mummies, as they recognized the lasting qualities of asphalt.
8.Asphalt pavement is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and used as liners for both sanitary and hazardous waste landfills.
9. Environmentally friendly asphalt is used as a mulching aid, it helps in the germination of seeds and to prevent soil erosion.
10. The United States has 2.6 million miles of paved roads, and about 94% of them are surfaced with asphalt pavement. Asphalt pavements are and continue to be, America’s pavement of choice.
