SECTION 313

ASPHALT SURFACE TREATMENT

I. GENERAL

1.1 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

A. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, material (except as herein provided),
tools, equipment, supplies, and services; and, shall perform all Work necessary for
constructing a single or multiple course asphalt surface treatment, in accordance with the
requirements of these specifications and in conformity with the lines shown on the Drawings
or as established by the Owner.

B. Asphalt surface treatment may consist of applying one or more seal coats (prime between 2
asphalt courses) or a prime coat followed by one or more seal coats as specified.

1.2 MATERIALS

Materials shall be furnished by the Contractor in accordance with Section 200.

1.3 SUBMITTALS

Submittals shall be made by the Contractor in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section
105 and as described below:

A. The Contractor shall submit reports of material analysis and asphalt mix designs confirming
conformance of all materials with the requirements of this section and all applicable VDOT
or permit requirements.

B. The “Acceptance Procedures for Aggregates” shall be in accordance with VDOT Section
200.04.

II. EXECUTION

2.1 WEATHER LIMITATIONS

Penetration courses shall not be placed when surfaces are wet when the air temperature is below 50°F
or when the surface temperature is below 70°F. The Contractor shall furnish a properly calibrated
infrared instrument for the purpose of measuring the surface temperature and shall measure the
surface temperature prior to placement

2.2 EQUIPMENT

A. Equipment for Heating and Applying Asphalt:

1. Spreaders:

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 Spreaders for coarse aggregate shall be sell-propelled spreading and leveling
machines or spreader boxes equipped with shoes or runners of sufficient width and
length to preclude damage or displacement of the subgrade or other courses.

2. Distributor:

The distributor shall be so designed, equipped, maintained, and operated that asphalt
at the specified temperature range may be applied uniformly on variable widths of
surface up to 15 feet at readily determined and controlled rates from 0.05 to 2.0
gallons per square yard, with uniform pressure, and with an allowable variation from
any specified rate not to exceed 0.02 gallon per square yard. Distributor equipment
shall include a tachometer, pressure gages, accurate volume measuring devices or a
calibrated tank, and a thermometer for measuring temperatures of the contents of the
tanks. Distributors shall be equipped with a power unit for the pump and full
circulation spray bars adjustable laterally and vertically. The distributor shall be
equipped with a positive shutoff control that will prevent lapping at the junction of
two applications. When necessary, the distributor shall be equipped with a positive
means of deflecting the spray to prevent coating of adjacent structures and
appurtenances. A connection shall be provided and hand spraying equipment shall be
used to cover variable width areas, patches and other areas where spray bar
application is impractical or would result in excessive asphalt material.

3. Rotary Power Broom

4. Roller equipment:

a. At least one pneumatic tire roller. The pneumatic tire roller shall be self-
propelled, and the gross load adjustable to apply 200 to 350 pounds per inch
of rolling width as directed. Tires shall be designed for a tire pressure of at
least 90 pounds per square inch. Pneumatic tire rollers shall be operated at a
maximum speed of 5 miles per hour.

b. Additional rollers that may be required may be tandem steel wheel or three-
wheel rollers weighing at least 8 tons. Steel wheel rollers shall be operated at
a maximum speed of 3 miles per hour.

5. Mechanical roller-type hopper or a self-propelled aggregate spreader of an approved

design.

2.3 CERTIFIED ASPHALT PAVING TECHNICIAN

The Contractor shall have a VDOT Certified Asphalt Paving Technician present during the paving
operation.

2.4 PRIME COAT:

The weather limitations of Paragraph 2.1 shall apply to asphalt prime coat work. When asphalt is to
be used as a cover for cement stabilization or as a primer for asphalt concrete, the weather limitations
specified for these particular operations shall apply.

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 The maximum application temperature of the liquid asphalt shall conform to the requirements of
Section 310, Table 310-1.

The surface to be primed shall be shaped to the required grade and section; rendered free from ruts,
corrugations, segregated material, or other irregularities, and uniformly compacted.

Delays in priming may necessitate reprocessing or reshaping to provide a smooth compacted surface.

Asphalt shall be applied by means of a pressure distributor in a uniform continuous spread. When
traffic is maintained, not more than 1/2 the width of the section shall be treated in one application.
Care shall be taken that the application of asphalt at junctions of spreads is not in excess of the
specified amount. Excess asphalt shall be removed from the surface by a squeegee. Skipped areas or
deficiencies shall be corrected.

During the application of asphalt, care shall be taken to prevent spattering adjacent items. The
distributor shall not be cleaned or discharged into ditches or borrow pits, onto shoulders, or along the
right of way. When not in use, equipment shall be parked so that the spray bar or mechanism will not
drip asphalt on the surface of the traveled way.

When traffic is maintained, one-way traffic shall be permitted on the untreated portion of the
roadbed. When the asphalt has been absorbed by the treated surface and will not pickup, traffic shall
be transferred to the treated portion and the remaining width of the section shall be primed.

The quantity, rate of application, temperature, and areas to be treated shall be approved before
application of the prime coat.

If after application of the prime coat the asphalt fails to penetrate within the time specified and the
roadway must be used by traffic, cover material shall be spread at the Contractor’s expense in an
amount that will prevent pickup of the asphalt.

When cover material is specified: Immediately after cover material is spread, rolling shall begin
immediately behind the spreader and shall consist of at least three complete coverages.

The prime coat shall be permitted to cure prior to the next application of asphalt.

During the period between application of the prime coat and the seal coat, the primed surface shall be
kept in repair. Holes, ravels and areas deficient in primer shall be patched and repaired with asphalt-
treated materials by penetration methods or other approved procedures.

2.5 SEAL COAT:

Seal coating operations shall not be started until the surface is thoroughly compacted and cleaned of
dust, mud, and foreign matter and the section to be sealed has been approved by the Owner.

Asphalt shall be applied by means of a pressure distributor in a uniform continuous spread over the
section to be treated and within the temperature range given in Section 310, Table 310-1. A strip of
building paper at least 3 feet in width and having a length equal to that of the spray bar of the
distributor plus 1 foot shall be used at the beginning of each spread. If the cutoff is not positive, the
use of paper may be required at the end of each spread. The paper shall be removed and disposed of
legally. The distributor shall be moving forward at the proper application speed at the time the spray

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 bar is opened. Skipped areas and deficiencies shall be corrected. Junctions of spreads shall be
carefully made to ensure a smooth riding surface.

The Length of the spread of asphalt shall be regulated by the quantity of cover material in loaded
trucks on the project.

The spread of asphalt shall be not more than 6 inches wider than the width covered by the cover
material from the spreading device. Asphalt shall not be allowed to chill, set up, dry, or otherwise
impair retention of the cover material.

During asphalt application, care shall be taken to prevent spattering adjacent items. The distributor
shall not be cleaned or discharged into ditches or borrow pits, onto shoulders, or along the right of
way. When not in use, equipment shall be parked so that the spray bar or mechanism will not drip
asphalt material on the surface of the traveled way.

Immediately following asphalt application, cover material shall be applied in full-lane widths up to
12 feet. Laps shall be made only at lane dividers or at the crown of the roadway. Successive laps at
lane dividers and the roadway crown shall be staggered from 3 to 6 inches. Spreading shall be
accomplished in a manner so that the tires of the truck or aggregate spreader do not contact the
uncovered and newly applied asphalt.

If directed, cover material shall be moistened with water to eliminate or reduce dust coating of
aggregate. Moistening shall be done the day before the use of aggregate.

Immediately after cover material is spread, rolling shall begin immediately behind the spreader and
shall consist of at least three complete coverages.

After application of cover material, the wearing surface shall be lightly broomed or otherwise
maintained until cured as directed. Maintenance of the surface shall include distributing cover
material over the surface to absorb free asphalt and cover any area deficient in cover aggregate.
Maintenance shall be conducted so as not to displace embedded material. Excess material shall be
swept from the surface by means of rotary brooms as required or as directed by the Owner.

Successive applications of asphalt using emulsion or asphalt cements may be applied without any
delay for curing. When cutback asphalt is used, the first seal coat shall be maintained and permitted
to cure for at least 48 hours.

2.6 OPENING TO TRAFFIC:

The roadway shall be kept open to traffic at all limes. As soon as the final layer is placed, controlled
traffic may be permitted thereon.

2.7 RATES OF APPLICATION:

Unless otherwise directed by the Owner or defined in the Drawings or Special Provisions, the rates of
application of materials shall be determined in accordance with the method described in Education
Series No. 12 of the Asphalt Institute entitled Asphalt Surface Treatments Construction Techniques.

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III. MEASUREMENT FOR PAYMENT

3.1 MEASUREMENT OF QUANTITIES

Surface treatment will be measured by the square yard, based on plan quantities.

3.2 INCIDENTAL ITEMS

Items considered incidental work will not be measured for payment or paid for as such. These items
and their costs will be included in the unit prices or lump sum bid for the pay items. Incidental items
are identified in Section 109.1.1 and also include the following:

Maintaining Treatment

3.3 PAY ITEMS

A. Asphalt surface treatment, complete.

B. Payment will be made at the unit price bid per square yard.

End of Section

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