WARRANTED HOT MIX ASPHALT PAVEMENTS: Development, Benefits and Risks

What Warranties Are Not Guarantee of defect free pavement Throwing away the spec book A way to get rid of DOT employees

What Warranties Are Guarantee of good performance Incentive for quality construction Incentive for innovation

Incentive for Good Performance Current Specifications written to push the contractor towards “good performance” Warranty Specifications define what good performance is

“The Contract Specifications Were Met” Definition of Success

BENEFIT OF WARRANTY Success = Performance Non-Confrontational Construction Innovation Rewarded

Assigning Risk “Who has control of an item?” Contractor? then contractor assumes risk of poor performance. Agency? then agency maintains risk of poor performance.

DOT Responsibilities Structure Quantities Time Unit Cost Condition Survey

Contractor Responsibilities Materials Mix Design Process Control Remediation Plans

Industry Benefits Liability “Raises the bar” Improves competition with pcc Builder sets own specs No approvals required

Agency Benefits People loss Improves probability of good performance Less confrontation

Friction

FN = 24

Correlation of Friction Number to Macro-texture Depth

HURDLES PEOPLE #1 is

HURDLES Agency –“What I want is a guarantee of performance –“... And by the way, I want to keep the specifications we have because they are a good set of specs. We have tuned them to cover all situations. –“... besides, I need a hammer to control poor (out-of-state) contractors.”

HURDLES Contractor –“What I want is for the agency to get out of my hair –“... don’t shut me down –“... and I want to get paid for every ton I put down.”

WHAT’S IN IT For the Agency –Performance

WHAT’S IN IT For the Contractor –Freedom in exchange for performance

BENEFITS Success = Performance Risk Balanced Innovation Rewarded Non-Confrontational Construction

SHORT TERM 3 to 5 years Focuses attention on manufacturing and placement details Minimal opportunity for innovation

LONG TERM Shifts focus from construction Innovative materials Maintenance techniques

WARRANTIES Improve performance Require change Worth it? You Decide

SURE LOOKS GOOD TO ME!