As one of six states taking the lead in implementing the Superpave performance design specifications for asphalt pavements, New York anticipates complete adoption of the specification this year.

"We have an aggressive implementation schedule," said Sheila Barkevich, vice president-services, Callanan Industries, Inc., South Bethlehem, N.Y., and co-chair of the New York State Asphalt Association's Technical Committee. She spoke on a panel on Superpave at the 44th annual meeting of the National Asphalt Pavement Association in February in San Diego.

"We began our Superpave implementation in 1996 with 11 projects let statewide," Barkevich said. "We have come a long way since then, and in 1999 we expect 100% implementation of Superpave in New York."

After initial experiences in 1996, producers and contractors went into 1997 apprehensive about Superpave and quite upset at New York's status as a Superpave lead state, she said. By 1998, Superpave tonnage had doubled to 40% of the total program while problems had been cut in half.

"Contractors and producers made the investment, technicians were better trained, and we were all further along the learning curve," she said.

Another asphalt contractor on the panel gave strong support to Superpave. "The secret to Superpave is that there are no secrets," said Randy West, manager of materials services, APAC, Smyrna, Ga. "The things that it takes to do a successful Superpave job are the same as it took to do a successful job in the past."

West said APAC placed about 2 million tons of Superpave mix in 1998, a relatively small amount of its total. But many of the southern states in which APAC operates plan full implementation of Superpave next year. The contractor is preparing for that with intensive staff training.