FHWA Broadens the Base of Technical Support for Users of the Superpave System

State and local highway agencies now have a new resource for help with implementing the Superpave system-namely, a specially trained team of 20 FHWA field engineers (see sidebar). The engineers will extend the reach of the Superpave Technology Delivery Team, which provides overall coordination and oversight for FHWA's Superpave program.

To bring them up to speed on the new specifications and tests, as well as construction techniques, FHWA recently held an intense, 1-week training session for the members of the extended Superpave Technology Delivery Team.

"The extended Superpave team will be in the best position to respond, on a daily basis, to project concerns and other local issues," says Gary Henderson, leader of the Superpave Technology Delivery Team. "They will be 'hands-on,' involved with the regional asphalt user-producer groups, the Superpave centers, and other State and regional groups."

The team's responsibilities include

• monitoring the status of Superpave projects,
• providing training and technical support, and
• improving communications between the Superpave Technology Delivery Team and contractors and agencies in the field.

According to the Maryland Division's Jitesh Parikh, who attended the training program, "The extended Superpave technology delivery team will be able to communicate with, and provide technical help to, a wide variety of partners-counties, States, and contractors. Working with local agencies is high on our agenda in Maryland, because the State is soon going to be exclusively specifying Superpave binders and mixes. Since many localities refer to State specs in their specs, they will need to quickly acquire the technical background necessary to supervise a Superpave project."

For more information, contact Gary Henderson at 202-366-1549 (fax: 202-366-9981; email: gary.henderson@fhwa.dot.gov).

Extended Superpave Delivery Team

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