Dunmore, PA – The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) recently announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 4 region, has won a 2021 Perpetual Pavement Award: By Performance (PPA) for a 2.78-mile section of two-lane Route 3022 (Segments 0010/0000 - 0060/2970) in Luzerne County, originally constructed in 1965. PennDOT has earned 11 PPAs since the program began in 2001.

To qualify for this prestigious award, a pavement must be at least 35 years old and never experienced a structural failure. The average interval between the resurfacing of the winning pavement must be no less than 13 years. The pavement must demonstrate the characteristics expected from long-life asphalt pavements: excellence in design, quality in construction and value for the traveling public. Engineers at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) evaluated the nominations and validated the winners.

"We are honored by the selection of State Route 3022 in Luzerne County for the 2021 Perpetual Pavement Award," PennDOT District 4 Executive Richard N. Roman, P.E., said. "Pennsylvania's northeast region is uniquely challenged with high traffic volumes, a growing economy and a strong winter season; but PennDOT is committed to providing quality highway improvements to the citizens of Pennsylvania. Route 3022 in Luzerne County is a good example of a quality road that had the right design along with quality construction to provide for a long-lasting road with minimum maintenance needs in the future."

The award-winning section of Route 3022 was opened to traffic in 1965. The original construction consisted of a 5-inch unknown base course and 3.0 inches of bituminous wearing course ID-2. With three resurfacings, the total thickness on this project has increased by only 2.75 inches in over 56 years.

This two-lane roadway currently has a current daily traffic of 3,884 vehicles per day totaling approximately 290,000 equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs) over its life.

As the years between resurfacing have averaged 18 years, this section of SR 3022 easily meets the criteria for a PPA and has served the traveling public. well since 1965. PennDOT will be honored by Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association (PAPA) and presented with an engraved crystal obelisk.

 "One key indicator of quality in construction is a smooth, long-life pavement," said Amy Miller, P.E., National Director of the APA. "Long-life asphalt pavements serve the community, reduce the money needed for maintenance, and conserve raw materials, ultimately leading to a truly sustainable structure that exemplifies the triple bottom line. Asphalt roads can be engineered to last indefinitely with only routine maintenance and periodic surface renewal. Perpetual pavements use fewer natural resources and offer road owners and users what they want most – an economical, smooth pavement that serves the community for decades."

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance is a coalition of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the Asphalt Institute, and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations. The Asphalt Pavement Alliance's mission is to establish asphalt as the preferred choice for quality, performance and the environment.

The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (www.driveasphalt.org) is a partnership of the Asphalt Institute (AI), National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations. The Asphalt Pavement Alliance's mission is to establish asphalt as the preferred choice for quality, performance and the environment.

The Asphalt Institute (www.asphaltinstitute.org) is the international trade association of petroleum asphalt producers, manufacturers and affiliated businesses. AI promotes the use, benefits and quality performance of petroleum asphalt, through engineering, research, marketing and educational activities.

The National Asphalt Pavement Association (www.asphaltpavement.org) represents the interests of U.S. asphalt producers/contractors before Congress, federal agencies, and other national trade and business organizations. NAPA supports an active research program designed to improve the quality of asphalt pavements and paving techniques used in the construction of roads, streets, highways, parking lots, airports, and environmental and recreational facilities.

The State Asphalt Pavement Associations (www.sapainc.org) represent the interests of asphalt pavement producers and paving companies at the state and local level across the United States. 

Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.

Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.pa.gov/D4Results.

Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Ruddy, 570-963-4044

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