Project Description

In an effort to maximize taxpayer dollars, the city of Colorado Springs chose to test 5,300 tons FORTA-FI reinforced asphalt in a fiber vs. control project aimed at reducing transverse and fatigue cracking. Located at the upper base of the Cheyenne Mountain, the roads in this overlay project experience severe thermal cracking due to extreme freeze-thaw cycles and high elevation. Streets Program Supervisor, Mike Hensley, said, “We are hoping this material will mitigate reflective cracking and improve the overall performance and life cycle of the roadway—ultimately saving the city maintenance costs.” Mike was also able to confirm that FORTA-FI was easy to add and place, with no interruption to production or changes in operations.

Update

Two years later, the FORTA-FI reinforced lanes showed a significant reduction in cracking compared to those paved with the conventional mix.