Depressed transverse cracks are a common and costly pavement distress occurring on many roads. Transverse cracks typically develop when low temperature-induced tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength of the pavement and run perpendicular to the pavement lane. When this type of distress occurs, motorists experience an uncomfortable ride. Nicollet County Highway Department in New Ulm, Minnesota, had been treating depressed, transverse, and longitudinal cracks by first applying a tack coat, followed by the installation of a hot mix asphalt repair that proved to be costly and labor intensive, in addition to requiring multiple trucks, a roller, a fairly large crew, and daylong traffic interruptions.
To provide a long-term repair to the depressed transverse cracks, Mastic One® was installed along a roadway heavily trafficked by cars, trucks, and large farming vehicles. A unique, hot-applied polymer modified asphalt-based material with engineered aggregate, Mastic One® is a highly adhesive, flexible, durable, and waterproof mastic with a service life exceeding five years and is specifically designed for wide transverse cracks and distressed surface areas in both asphalt and concrete pavements making it the preferred repair material.
Utilizing flagmen for traffic control and a shoe box applicator to repair a single lane at a time, crew members effortlessly applied a pallet (2,880 lbs./ 1306.34 kg) of Mastic One® to a mile-long section of pavement in approximately two hours. Choosing to apply Mastic One® enabled traffic to travel over the repair minutes after application, resulting in minimal traffic flow interruption and a subsequent ride that was extremely smooth.
Utilizing Mastic One® to treat depressed transverse cracks resulted in significantly less traffic interruption, less equipment and crew, lower cost, and an improved long-term repair. These benefits along with ensuring a smooth ride for vehicles provided an unrivaled solution to a very common road challenge.
Editor's Note: Scranton Gillette Communications and the SGC Infrastructure Group are not liable for the accuracy, efficacy and validity of the claims made in this piece. The views expressed in this content do not reflect the position of the Roads & Bridges' Editorial Team.
