Asphalt Section

The Asphalt Section at the Materials Control, Soils and Testing Division is committed to ensuring that only quality asphalt products are used in constructing and maintaining our highways for the citizens of West Virginia. We will be proactive in maintaining and developing education, testing, inspection, and quality assurance programs that use the latest processes and technology to meet State and Federal specifications.

The Asphalt Laboratories are AASHTO Accredited through the AASHTO re:source organization, formerly AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL). The Binder, Emulsion, and Mixture laboratories all participate in the AASHTO re:source proficiency program as well as a biennial inspection. The Laboratories are certified in the following tests, however the entire accreditation details can be found at the following link: AASHTO re:source Accreditation.

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The West Virginia Division of Highway’s Standard Specifications Roads and Bridges governs the materials that are used on West Virginia’s highways. It is important that the Asphalt Section understands these specifications, how they affect construction of our roadways, and how they affect the lifespan of asphalt roadways in the State. The sections of the specifications that cover asphalt and asphalt materials are listed below:

It is important to perform all procedures associated with sampling, testing, reporting, and inspection appropriately in order to maintain a reliable quality assurance system. This is accomplished by use of Division approved Materials Procedures (MPs). These MPs are numbered to coincide with the Standard Specifications. As such, the Asphalt Section maintains the 400 Series of MPs. The following is an individual list of MPs currently maintained by the Asphalt Section:

• 401.02.21: Calibration of Thermometer and Pyrometer at Bituminous Concrete Mixing Plant
• 401.02.22: Design Testing of Hot-Mix Asphalt
• 401.02.24: Guide to Designing Hot-Mix Asphalt with Recycled Asphalt Pavement
• 401.02.25: Certification of Asphalt and Tar Shipping Terminals
• 401.02.27: Guide for Contractors Quality Control of Hot-Mix Asphalt
• 401.02.28: Guide to Designing Hot-Mix Asphalt Using Superpave Volumetric Design
• 401.02.29: Guideline for Quality Control and Acceptance Requirements for Superpave Hot-Mix Asphalt
  
• 401.02.31: Guide for Quality Control and Acceptance Requirements for Asphalt Mixtures on Specified Interstate and Expressway Projects
  
• 401.03.50: Guide for Contractor's Quality Control of Bituminous Concrete
• 401.05.20: Compaction Testing of Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavement
  
• 401.07.20: PWL  - Sampling Loose Asphaltic Mixtures from the Roadway
  
• 401.07.21: PWL - Sampling Compacted Asphaltic Mixtures from the Roadway
  
• 401.07.22: PWL - Standard Method of Measurement for Thickness of Asphalt Pavement Using Drilled Cores
  
• 401.07.23: PWL - Guide to Determining Interface Bond Shear Strength of Multi-layered Asphalt Pavement Specimens
  
• 401.07.24: PWL - Standard Test Method for Measuring Pavement Macrotexture Depth Using a Volumetric Technique
  
• 401.07.25: PWL - Guide for Evaluation of Asphalt Pavements with Substandard Properties
  
• 401.13.50: PWL - Guide to Statistical Analysis of Material Using Quality Level Analysis - Percent Within Limits
  
• 402.02.20: Rapid Determination of the Polish Susceptible Carbonate Particle Content in Aggregates
• 403.01.50: Procedure for Determining a Reduced Unit Price to Be Paid for Penetration Macadam Which Does Not Conform to the Grading Requirements of Governing Specifications

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