To qualify for this award, a pavement must be at least 35 years old and never experienced a structural failure. The average interval between the resurfacing of the winning pavement must be no less than 13 years. The pavement must demonstrate the characteristics expected from long-life asphalt pavements: excellence in design, quality in construction, and value for the traveling public. Engineers at the National Center for Asphalt Technology evaluated the nominations and validated the winners.
The award-winning section of U.S. 82 was opened to traffic over 43 years ago. The original construction consisted of six inches of lime treated material, 10 inches of an asphalt treated layer, and a three-inch asphalt surface.
This four-lane highway currently has a current daily traffic count of 22,800 vehicles totaling 12.8 million equivalent single-axle loads dating back to 1983.
As the years between resurfacing have averaged 13.7 years, this section of U.S. 82 meets the criteria for a PPA and has served the traveling public in the state well since 1978. MDOT will be honored by Mississippi Asphalt Pavement Association and presented with an engraved crystal obelisk.
| Your local Wirtgen America dealer |
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| Kirby Smith Machinery |
“The Mississippi Department of Transportation is very honored and pleased to be recognized with this Perpetual Pavement Award,” said Tom King, Mississippi Transportation Commission Chair. “This section of US 82 in Lowndes County has needed only minimal maintenance in its life-span. The work our engineers, partners, and contractors continue to deliver shows the quality and efficiency of their dedication to Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure."
