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The 3rd phase of the Long Life Pavements project that will start this year, requires that several countries take an active role such as constructing roads using epoxy asphalt and high performance cementitious materials. Countries that are ready to take part in the project, and in particular countries that will be able to construct, in 2009-2010, test field sections of road using these materials should apply by January 31st 2009.

The Long Life Pavements project began in 2002. In the first phase, an economic evaluation of long life wearing course was performed, which concluded that:
• Long life pavement surfacing costing around three times that of traditional wearing courses could be economically viable, assuming an expected life of 30 years and an annual average daily traffic of 80 000 or more.
• Laboratory tests should be conducted on the two candidate materials identified: epoxy asphalt and high performance cementitious material.

In Phase 2 (2005-08), the two materials were tested in laboratories where it was concluded that:
• Epoxy asphalt and high cementitious materials performed well.
• These two materials should be implemented on large scale demonstrations to test production, laying and performance issues

Phase 3 will consist of field trials of the two surfacing materials evaluated in phase 2: epoxy asphalt and high performance cementitious materials. The objectives are to co-ordinate trials in order to research production, laying and quality control, as well as cost – and demonstrate the performance of such surfacing under real traffic and environmental conditions.

For this third phase to be successful, it is required that several countries take an active role  : this means constructing road sections using one of these materials.

France indicated they will launch two construction sites  using HPCM. The first consists of a  roundabout ; the second, of a 100 metre section of urban road. In the latter case, a parallel experiment will take place to assess the depollution  effect of Titane dioxide.

New Zealand has already started constructing sections of road using epoxy asphalt.

Last year, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary,  Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ukraine indicated their interest in participating in Phase 3. Early confirmation from these countries ,and others, would be appreciated, whether they are ready to begin construction of road sections using the above materials. 

The launch meeting will be held in Spring  2009. In order to prepare for it, it should be known, by 31 January 2009, which countries are ready to take part in the project, and in particular . which countries will be able to construct, in 2009-2010, sections of road using either epoxy asphalt or high performance cementious material.

For more information, please contact:

Véronique FEYPELL-de LA BEAUMELLE
Administrator
Joint Transport Research Centre of
the OECD and the International Transport Forum
Offices: 5th floor, 2-4 rue Louis David, 75016 Paris, France
Postal address: OECD/ITF, 2 rue André Pascal, F-75775 Paris Cedex 16
Tel. + 33 (0)1 45 24 95 95
Fax. + 33 (0)1 44 30 63 15
veronique.feypell@oecd.org
www.internationaltransportforum.org