Bluffton Paving won the award for the mill and overlay of US 30 in Hancock County, Ohio. The company used paver-mounted thermal profiling to measure thermal segregation, which was very low. It also used echelon paving on-ramps to produce a nearly seamless joint. The project mixes included reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), a sustainable approach to paving that conserves virgin materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Gerken Paving won two awards. The first was for the mill and overlay of the SR 250 Interchange with the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County, Ohio. The company milled the road 3 inches, made full-depth repairs in some areas, and then placed a 1.75-inch asphalt intermediate course and a 1.25-inch surface course. Project challenges included maintaining traffic to most of the ramps at all times, even during paving, despite the very tight shoulders and median walls.

Gerken Paving’s second award was for the widening of Sterns Rd. and Whiteford Center Rd. in Monroe County, Mich. Challenges included removing unexpected sedimentary rock found during excavation and building up the intersection to newly established pavement grades. The company incorporated reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the project mixes, a sustainable paving practice that conserves virgin materials and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

“The asphalt pavement industry is committed to building high-quality projects that deliver superior performance to the traveling public. All contractors’ projects earning a Quality in Construction award are measured against best practices designed to live up to that commitment,” said 2023 NAPA Chair Christian Zimmermann.