Category:402 Bituminous Surface Leveling

Contract Leveling Course Guidelines

Job Special Provisions

PDFs of Contract Leveling Course Plan Templates

402.1 Design of Contract Leveling Course Projects

Figures

Asphalt Cement Price Index Example Calculations

402.1.1 Plan Preparation

In order to coordinate and expedite the preparation of projects for the contract leveling course program, plans shall be prepared in English units and submitted to the Design Division by August 1 of the program year. This will enable the bidding and contract services section to adjust the groupings, if necessary, and to appropriately schedule the bid opening dates.

The contract leveling course program is intended for use on roadways with less than 3500 ADT, and on which a BP-1, Type C, Type IC or superpave mixture has not been previously placed. Superpave resurfacing is viewed as more involved work, and should be programmed as a thin lift overlay project outside of the contract leveling course program.

To shorten the processing time, improve the quality of plans and to standardize procedures across the state, the following should be used when preparing plans in English units:

• Each project should have, as a minimum, the following plan sheets:

1. Title Sheet, with north arrow pointing to the top of the sheet, if possible.

2. Length of Project Sheet - should include "exceptions."

3. Typical Section Sheet - should include "estimate factors."

• Leveling course projects must have logical termini. Do not break projects at district, county or city limit lines (short projects which abut should not be shown as separate projects). Coordination with adjoining districts should be done when a project abuts a district boundary.

• Example of Contract Leveling Course (CLC) Plans provides sample templates for typical sections but not the location sketch or project length and typical sections. Examples of CLC plans are electronically available in Microstation format on district servers.

• The Bridge Division will analyze all bridges within the project limits to determine which bridges can be overlayed based on bridge rail height and load rating. With supporting information from District Operations and/or Design, the Bridge Division will verify the load ratings for each bridge and verify that any standard rail will not be made substandard by the Contract Leveling Course operations. Bridges should be excepted unless prior written approval is obtained from the Bridge Division and submitted with the transmittal package.

• Districts need to supply at time of submittal conflict of interest documentation (see Submission of Plans and Supporting Documents).

• Use of district forces for any operation, such as milling, that may affect the progression of the contractor operation, shall be approved in accordance with Work Funded by Maintenance.

402.1.2 Mix and Quantities

Tack quantities are based on tacking the entire roadway surface at an estimated rate of 0.05 gallons/yd². The asphalt binder for the contract leveling course mixture (surface leveling) should typically be PG 64-22. Quantities for asphalt binder and mineral aggregate for individual projects will vary and should be shown, along with the estimate factors used for calculating quantities on the typical section sheets for the project. Minimum thicknesses are 1 in. for Plant Mix Bituminous Surface mixtures, 1 1/4 in. for BP-2 mixtures and 1 3/4 in. for BP-1 mixtures.

The Bitminous Mixtures Criteria for Contract Leveling Course Projects table below is a guide for selecting bituminous mixtures for contract leveling course projects. If the district elects to use a mixture other than what is specified, the project manager should submit by letter to the Design Division the justification for specifying a different mixture or thickness than given in the table below. In addition, at the bottom of the letter an approval signature block similar to that on the Design Exception Information Form should be provided for the State Design Engineer.

Bituminous Mixtures Criteria for Contract Leveling Course Projects

Corridor Designation	Traffic	Recommended Mix and Thickness
Light Duty	ADT < 1750	1 in. Sec 402 Mixture
Light Duty	1750 < ADT < 3500	1 1/4 in. BP-2* (Sec 401)
If the district feels warranted, a 1 1/4 in. BP-1 (Sec 401) mixture may be substituted for this application.

If special situations require limiting loads on a given route, a "Haul Road Restriction" special provision will be considered on a project-by-project basis. Otherwise, the only load restrictions, other than the 80,000-pound legal load limit, will be any posted bridge load limits.

402.1.3 Traffic Control, Pavement Marking and Signing

Traffic control plans and job special provisions should be prepared and submitted by the districts. Traffic control plan templates are available on district servers. Sample job special provisions are also available from the Design Division Review Section. The quantity of "No Center Stripe" Signs should be included as necessary to sign the entire project. On contract leveling jobs, final pavement marking may be required in the contract, included in a district wide pavement marking contract, or done by district forces. The guidance for pavement marking, General (MUTCD Chapter 3A) - Permanent Pavement Markings provide guidance for selection of pavement marking material. Temporary raised pavement markers are included in the resurfacing contract at no direct pay to the contractor, regardless of method of pavement marking.

402.2 Construction Inspection for Sec 402

This is not a contract document and is to be used solely as a commentary on Standard Specification Section 402. Surface leveling mixes will be referred to as SL throughout this section. SL mixes are used to correct any irregularities in the surface of an existing pavement on a route with low traffic volumes.

402.2.1 Material (Sec 402.2)

Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (Sec 402.2.3)

See Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in Plant Inspection.

402.2.2 Composition of Mixture (Sec 402.3)

Gradation of Combined Aggregates (Sec 402.3.1)

The aggregate sources used in the mix must be the same as those required by the JMF. The combined aggregate shall meet the gradation required in Standard Specification Section 402.3.1.

Alternate Gradation (Sec 402.3.2)

If wet bottom boiler slag is used to replace coarse aggregate, the combined aggregate shall meet the gradation required in Standard Specification Section 402.3.2.

Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement Sec 402.3.3)

See Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) in Plant Inspection.

402.2.3 Job Mix Formula (Sec 402.4)

The requirements of Standard Specification Section 401.4 apply.

402.2.4 Gradation Control (Sec 402.5)

The inspector should perform a sieve analysis on the hot bins or the combined cold feed at a minimum of once per day. Testing may be waived, with the RE’s approval and the contractor’s certification of the mix, when less than 200 tons are produced per day. The combined aggregate gradation must be within the master range specified in Standard Specification Section 402.3.1 at all times. The combined aggregate gradation can vary from the JMF by the maximum tolerance shown in the table below. The mix shall be produced at the binder content shown on the JMF. However, the binder content of the mix, as determined by calculations or sampling and testing, must be within the following maximum tolerance from the JMF.

Property	Tolerance
#200	±2.0%
Binder Content	±0.5%

The Standard Specifications do not put testing requirements on the binder content. However, if there is any reason to suspect that the binder content of the mix is not within these specifications, the inspector should take a sample and determine the binder content of the mix. For example, a sample should be taken and tested if the mix appears too dry or too wet. The binder content, as shown on the JMF, cannot be changed during production without written approval from Construction and Materials, even if the resulting binder content is within the tolerance from the JMF. If a new binder content is approved, the tolerance will apply to the new target. If a sieve analysis indicates a deviation from the JMF exceeding the specified tolerances, the contractor will be notified immediately. The contractor shall then review the cold feed settings and make any necessary adjustments. As soon as any adjustments are completed, another test will be performed. If excessive deviation still exists, the contractor will be informed and production shall stop. Further adjustments or revisions shall be made until an acceptable sieve analysis is obtained. At this time, production can resume. Adjustments in the cold feed percentages in excess of 5.0% may require a new JMF.

402.2.5 Sample Location (Sec 402.6)

See "Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP)" and "Sieve Analysis" in Plant Inspection. When sampling for the binder content of the mix, see also "Asphalt Binder Content."

402.2.6 Moisture Content (Sec 402.7)

See Asphalt Binder Content. When sampling for the binder content, also determine the moisture content of the mix.

402.2.7 Contamination (Sec 402.8

See Material Acceptance.

402.2.8 Field Laboratory (Sec 402.9)

See Field Laboratory.

402.2.9 Construction Requirements (Sec 402.10)

Weather Limitations (Sec 402.10.1)

See Weather Conditions. SL mixes shall not be placed if the ambient air temperature or the existing surface temperature is below 50°F.

Bituminous Mixing Plants (Sec 402.10.2)

See Bituminous Mixing Plants.

Subgrade Preparation (Sec 402.10.3) In this case, subgrade refers to the existing pavement. Before the project begins, District Maintenance should perform any necessary repairs that may not be compensated for by the surface leveling. Deep rutting or dips should be filled prior to the placement of the surface leveling unless otherwise directed by the District Construction and Materials Engineer. The existing pavement surface should be cleaned and tacked in accordance with Standard Specification Section 407.

Hauling Equipment (Sec 402.10.4)

See Haul Trucks.

Spreading (Sec 402.10.5)

See Spreading and Hand Spreading in Paving Operations.

Irregularities (Sec 402.10.5.1)

See Spreading in Paving Operations.

Joints (Sec 402.10.6)

See Transverse Joints and Longitudinal Joints in Paving Operations.

Compaction (Sec 402.10.7)

See Rollers in Paving Equipment and Compaction in Paving Equipment. At least 3 passes shall be made over the entire mat with either a pneumatic tire roller or a steel wheel roller. The steel wheel roller may be a static or vibratory roller. SL mixes are generally placed very thin (minimum of 1 in.). Therefore, the reaction of the mat to compaction must be watched very closely. The inspector should ensure that the roller(s) used for compaction weigh at least 10 tons. A steel wheel roller, or a vibratory roller operated in static mode, must be used for final rolling.

Surface Condition (Sec 402.10.8)

See Material Acceptance.

402.2.10 Method of Measurement

The total tonnage accepted will be measured to the nearest 0.1 ton.

402.2.11 Basis of Payment

The accepted quantity of SL mix will be paid for at the contract unit price. The contract unit price is set up as total mix (mineral aggregate and asphalt binder are no longer paid for separately).

402.3 Materials Inspection for Sec 402

402.3.1 Scope

To establish procedures for mix design of plant mix bituminous surface leveling. Ingredients for use in plant mix bituminous surface leveling are to be inspected in accordance with the applicable guidelines. Trial mix aggregate samples shall be submitted in accordance with EPG 1001 General Requirements for Material. Plant calibrations, if requested, shall be performed in accordance with EPG 106.4 Plant Inspections.

402.3.2 Procedure

Mix design procedures are identical to those shown in Materials Inspection in Asphaltic Concrete Pavement. If it becomes necessary to calculate a mix, the formulae, procedure and reporting shall be performed as described in EPG 403.3 Laboratory Procedures for Sec 403.

402.4 Laboratory Procedures for Sec 402

This establishes procedures for Laboratory testing and reporting of plant mix bituminous surface leveling trial mixtures.

402.4.1 Procedure

Trial mixture test results and calculations required for plant mix bituminous surface leveling will be determined as shown in Laboratory Procedures for Sec 403. No field compacted density samples are required.

402.4.2 Sample Record

The sample record shall be completed in SiteManager, as described in Automation Sec 3510. Test results shall be reported on the appropriate templates under the Tests tab.