Awards cap off Perpetual Pavement Conference
First PPC since 2014 examined the past, present, and future of perpetual pavements.
Following a day-and-a-half of general sessions, technical presentations, and workshops, the first Perpetual Pavement Conference since 2014 wrapped on Wednesday with the presentation of two awards, one for the first time ever.
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) presented the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet with a Perpetual Pavement Award for a six-mile section of Interstate 69 that runs through Lyon and Caldwell counties.
The road project, which was first constructed in 1968, qualified for the award in the “By Performance” category. Perpetual pavements are long-lasting pavements that are so sound that they require only minimal resurfacing as part of extending the pavement’s life. Perpetual By Performance awards recognize projects that have been in place for at least 35 years with an average interval between resurfacing of no less than 13 years that have not suffered a structural failure.
Presenting: The Dave Newcomb Perpetual Pavement Pioneer Award
NAPA announced a new award for individuals at the conclusion of the Perpetual Pavement Conference: The Dave Newcomb Perpetual Pavement Pioneer Award.
While Perpetual Pavement Awards go to agencies, NAPA Vice President for Engineering, Research, & Technology Richard Willis said it was also important to recognize the people who made perpetual pavement projects possible, like Newcomb, who passed away in March of this year.
Newcomb coined the term perpetual pavements and was instrumental in raising the profile of the innovations and approaches that made long-lasting pavements possible. His wife, Margot, joined Willis, APA Executive Director Reed Ryan, and Asphalt Institute Director of Research and Laboratory Services Mike Anderson in presenting the inaugural award to Marshall Thompson, professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
UIUC Assistant Professor Ramez M. Hajj accepted the award on behalf of Thompson.
