The Waukesha County roads that are part of this project are about 7-8" thick. It can be costly and time-consuming to tear out an entire existing road and pave back in that thick. It was determined by Waukesha County Engineering that removal of 6” of the existing pavement and patching distressed areas would be necessary. Those areas are milled 6” deep and an asphalt mix designed for Waukesha County is paved in two layers with nuclear density testing to make sure it is the right density and performs properly over time.

To save costs over traditional paving of a first binder layer, hot-in-place recycling can be done, a sustainable and eco-friendly asphalt paving method.

Wolf Paving completed the 2.75-mile Coffee Road municipal paving project in New Berlin, Wisconsin.  There were four phases of the municipal project, pre-determined by the City of New Berlin. The project included widening and straightening the road, strengthening the base through the use of geo-textile fabric and Glas-Grid reinforcing pavement mesh, and applying the new asphalt pavement along the entire road. The project began in April 2013 and was completed in October 2013.

Watch the progress of the Coffee Road redevelopment project each step of the way:

• Part 1: Widening Coffee Road in New Berlin, WI
• Part 2: Excavating Coffee Road and Installing Geo-Grid Reinforcement
• Part 3: Removing the Old Road by Milling the Pavement
• Part 4: Creating New Ditches and Adding the Culverts
• Part 5: Installing Glas-Grid and Paving the Final Layers to Finish the Road

Here at Wolf Paving, we care about ensuring our work is the very best it can be and that it lasts as long as possible. To achieve the best results, we carefully consider every aspect of a paving project, literally from the ground up. What kind of soils exist at the site? If paving has been done before, what materials were used and are they re-usable in the current project? We ask these questions because we know an excellent base is required for an excellent result. A weak base could result in the pavement above it shifting, cracking, or even sinking. 

You may already be aware that the asphalt being laid down for new roads and patching older roads is largely made up of recycled material.  In fact, asphalt is one of America’s most recycled materials.  You may also be aware that, in some cases, the recycled material comes from roofing shingles as well as roads. 

Using RAS in Asphalt Mixtures

The use of recycled asphalt shingles, or RAS, has been fairly limited in the past, though, mostly because roofing materials contain a lot of extra material besides the asphalt itself.  For example, roofing shingles may have nails, plastic, fiberboard, paper, cellophane, and wood.  This makes the recycling process much more challenging. 

Additionally, local and state governments have been waiting on additional studies to be done regarding whether asphalt-using RAS is as reliable as asphalt that does not use it. These studies are increasingly showing that asphalt that uses RAS is as reliable and durable as more standard asphalt mixes, provided they are properly mixed.  Therefore, the use of RAS mixtures is on the rise.

The way your driveway looks can reflect on your home and property. When an asphalt driveway is first installed, it has a fresh look to it. After some time, you begin to see the wear and tear from weather and any traffic. To keep the driveway protected and looking fresh, an asphalt overlay can be added.