Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are responsible for infrastructure that must perform safely, reliably, and efficiently over decades of service. From highways and bridge decks to concrete pavements and rehabilitation projects, reinforcement decisions can have a significant impact on durability, constructability, maintenance needs, and life-cycle cost.
FORTA works with DOTs, engineers, contractors, and material producers to develop fiber reinforcement solutions for transportation infrastructure. Through engineered synthetic and steel fibers for concrete and asphalt applications, FORTA helps agencies address cracking, durability, construction efficiency, and long-term performance across a wide range of high-impact roadway projects.
Fiber reinforcement distributes reinforcement throughout the concrete or asphalt mixture, helping improve material performance where cracking and deterioration begin.
Depending on the application, FORTA reinforcement solutions can help support:
FORTA solutions can be incorporated into new construction, rehabilitation, overlays, bridge decks, pavements, and other transportation applications based on project-specific performance requirements.
As NYDOT sought solutions to mitigate reflective cracking, the standard approach included a 6-in mill and replace, with polymer-modified binder over existing transverse cracks prior to a 2-in mill and overlay. Typical costs ranged from $50 to $100/SY and required extensive labor and time, additional work zones, and increased safety concerns.
Utilizing PGS strategies, James Jordan of NYDOT highlighted the value, which includes:
1) reduction in reflective cracking 2) Reduced cost 3) Less work zone exposure 4) Simplified project work and ease of implementation 5) Delayed maintenance needs
Savings
Additional Work Zones
reflective Crack Mitigation
UDOT has recognized the performance benefit of relying on PGS, with projects totaling nearly 90,000 tons of asphalt in 2020 alone. Each project has targeted a specific goal.
On I-15 Black Ridge, we helped consultants and UDOT personnel increase structural capacity and mitigate reflective cracking, all while maintaining their budget and keeping costs low.
On Brush Wellman rd, an FHWA funded joint venture between UDOT and Millard County, we were able to extend pavement design life and ease the future maintenance burden on the county.
Combined Project Size
Pavement Design Life
Reflective Crack Mitigation
The interchange at I-270 & I-70 is recognized as one of the busiest interchanges in the country. When it was time for an overlay, MoDOT trusted Pacific GeoSource to reinforce it.
As a result…
“The improved asphalt pavement will provide the safest and smoothest surface for the traveling public and industries moving their product for years to come.”
– Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association
by MoDOT
Successful fiber reinforcement starts well before construction.
FORTA’s engineering and technical teams work with agencies, consultants, contractors, and producers to evaluate project conditions and determine an appropriate reinforcement strategy.
Support may include specification assistance, engineering calculations, traditional reinforcement conversions, asphalt and concrete design guidance, dosage recommendations, mix support, and onsite technical assistance.
By engaging early in the design process, FORTA can help project teams evaluate reinforcement options based on performance goals, constructability, project schedules, and long-term infrastructure needs.
Concrete transportation infrastructure is exposed to repeated loading, environmental conditions, cracking, and demanding construction schedules.
FORTA macro synthetic and steel fiber reinforcement can be used in applications such as:
FORTA’s 3-dimensional fiber reinforcement can help improve crack control, toughness, and post-crack performance throughout the concrete section.
Depending on the application and design requirements, fibers may also reduce or replace conventional welded wire reinforcement or traditional rebar, helping simplify reinforcement installation and improve constructability.
FORTA also provides engineered fiber solutions for asphalt pavements.
Asphalt reinforcement focuses on addressing mechanisms that contribute to pavement deterioration, including fatigue, thermal movement, and cracking. Fibers are incorporated directly into the asphalt mixture, reinforcing the pavement throughout the material rather than only at a single interface.
FORTA asphalt fiber solutions can support applications including:
The goal is to help agencies extend pavement performance and increase the time between major maintenance interventions.
DOT projects increasingly have to balance performance with limited budgets, labor availability, traffic disruption, and aggressive construction schedules.
Fiber reinforcement can help address several of those challenges at the same time.
By incorporating reinforcement directly into the mixture, project teams may be able to reduce reinforcement placement requirements, simplify construction, and minimize some of the labor associated with traditional reinforcement systems.
Improved durability and crack control can also support longer service intervals, helping agencies focus resources on maintaining more of their transportation network rather than repeatedly repairing the same assets.
Longer-lasting infrastructure can also contribute to broader sustainability objectives.
Extending asphalt and concrete service life can reduce the frequency of reconstruction, material consumption, traffic disruptions, and maintenance activities over the life of an asset.
FORTA continues to invest in research, testing, and environmental transparency to help agencies evaluate reinforcement decisions based on both engineering performance and long-term impact.
Environmental Product Declarations are also available for select FORTA reinforcement products, providing additional information for agencies pursuing sustainability and material transparency goals.
The FORTA Advantage
FORTA has focused on fiber reinforcement since 1978, helping advance the use of engineered fibers in concrete, asphalt, and infrastructure applications around the world.
That experience is supported by engineers, material specialists, technical professionals, and field experts who understand that DOT projects rarely have a one-size-fits-all solution.
FORTA combines reinforcement expertise, product development, testing, and project support to help agencies and their partners identify practical solutions based on the needs of each project.
From early design and specification discussions through construction and field support, FORTA works alongside DOTs, consultants, contractors, and producers to help improve the performance of critical transportation infrastructure.
Whether you’re evaluating reinforcement for a concrete pavement, bridge deck, asphalt highway, overlay, or rehabilitation project, FORTA can help determine the right fiber solution for your application. Contact FORTA today for design assistance, specification support, reinforcement guidance, or more information.
