Longer asphalt life thanks to fiberglass asphalt reinforcement

The longer asphalt lasts, the better. Provided it can be done in a sustainable way. For this reason, construction company BAM Infra Nederland is applying asphalt reinforcement in the major maintenance of the Zeeburger bridges in the A10. To be precise, S&P GLASPHALT® GV120-200, a prebituminized asphalt reinforcement based on glass fiber. An important advantage of this type of reinforcement is the speed with which it is applied.

"To give you an idea of the speed at which we apply GLASPHALT®; on average we do 1,000 to 1,500 m2 per hour. In two full days we even realized 45,000 m2," says Ton van Loef, Technology & Commerce Advisor at S&P Reinforcement Benelux. S&P is a leading global manufacturer of materials for the reinforcement and repair of concrete and asphalt structures. Fiberglass and carbon asphalt reinforcement is one of its products. It is used worldwide to reinforce asphalt and thereby significantly slow cracking. "Especially in areas with a high risk of cracking, it is in high demand, such as in the western part of the Netherlands. But it also proves its added value when widening roads and high traffic load roads and bridges." 

Seamless together with LEAB asphalt

S&P is working closely with BAM, both on the Large Maintenance Zeeburger Bridges A10 project and elsewhere in the Netherlands such as on various N roads in South Holland. In the maintenance of the Zeeburg bridges (A10), the Department of Public Works is replacing the road surface with asphalt made up of 50% of recycled asphalt. This asphalt is also produced and laid using less energy. Construction company BAM Infra Nederland is the contractor for this special project. Here, BAM is applying its Low Energy Asphalt Concrete (LEAB). Its production requires less energy than that of traditional asphalt. "Our asphalt reinforcement goes perfectly with this type of asphalt. In addition, it is proven milled, circular and applicable to existing, milled and new asphalt."

Shapeable

The reinforcement is applied in the form of mats, or nets. The beauty according to Ton is that these are flexible and form to the asphalt which makes the asphalt extra strong. "S&P's reinforcement net is fully impregnated with bitumen and the nodes of the net are not fixed. The net is therefore moldable to the substrate during installation and can be laid directly under the top layer of asphalt. And because it is moldable, it can also be applied in bends with large to medium radii without much difficulty. Once asphalt reinforcement is applied, the asphalt layer can be applied immediately. That way you limit the time a road has to be closed."

Asphalt Train

As far as BAM is concerned, the application of S&P asphalt reinforcement has clear added value. "Because," explains Harco Pieterse, Regional Technologist at BAM, "the bituminized fibers ensure optimal adhesion and interaction with the adhesive layer. In addition, the flexible fiber ensures good adhesion to a milled surface, for example. Not to mention, the application speed gives the laying crew a half-hour head start and the asphalt train won't catch up with them."