IMPROVING ROADWAYS: PERFORMANCE GRADED ASPHALT BINDERS

The global objectives of SHRP were to improve the performance and durability of roads in the U.S. and to make the roads safer for both motorists and highway workers. About $50 million of the research effort was spent on developing new specifications for asphalt binders and asphalt concrete mixtures. The original purpose of this article was to provide members of the asphalt paving industry in Montana with a working knowledge of how to select binders according to the new specifications. However, because these new specifications are being applied across the country, many of the concepts presented in this article are appropriate for all states. This article will not describe the test procedures that were developed for the new specifications; this is available from many SHRP publications.