UPDATES

I thought it a good idea to create this page so that people who visit the site regularly may be made aware of any additional material that may have been added to a particular page, or indeed the addition of a new page.
With existing pages, only if there has been a significant change to the page and the information it contains or how it is presented will I make reference to it. 
If I have only corrected a found spelling mistake or re-phrased a sentence or two to make its meaning more apparent, then that will not be considered worth an individual mention.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FROM AUGUST 2009 ALL PAGES WILL BE FORMATTED PRIMARILY FOR DISPLAY ON 1024 X 768 SCREEN RESOLUTION

6th. February 2010
There has been an important addition to the page   BITUMEN VISCOSITIES FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS.

25th. January 2010
There has been a new addition to the web page,  LINKS TO WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND INTERESTING AND REWARDING

I have also done some "housekeeping" on this page to remove websites that have become "dead" links, find the correct new link, or just remove some websites because they have become purely commercial, offering little if any genuine information or guidance and usually needing to "log on" and leave contact details.

22nd. January 2010
The pages,
A guide to "TRL" prefixed reports relevant to Highways Maintenance, giving an indication of their content 
and 
A guide to some of the BS EN (European) Specifications, relevant to Highways Maintenance and Construction
have received additional information.

24th. December 2009
The page ROAD SALT FOR WINTER SERVICE / MAINTENANCE  has received an update.

21st. November 2009
The page  BITUMEN VISCOSITIES FOR BITUMINOUS MATERIALS  has received an important update relating to the specifying of paving grade bitumens.

Also  the page  A GUIDE TO SOME OF THE BS EN (EUROPEAN) SPECIFICATIONS, RELEVANT TO HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION  has received additions.

11th. August 2009
The page  BRITISH STANDARD BITUMINOUS MIXTURES, THAT CAN BE LAID THINLY  has undergone a substantial update, with additional text being added.

3rd. August 2009
The page  A GUIDE TO CONCRETE AND CONCRETE RELATED SUBJECTS / PRODUCTS  has received a little extra text, some updating and some "tidying".

2nd. August 2009
There has been significant additional text added to the page,  THE BASICS OF CONCRETE .

30th. July 2009
The page  AGGREGATE PROPERTIES  has received new images and some qualifying text.

19th. June 2009
The following pages have received updates worthy of mention,
A GUIDE TO SOME OF THE BS EN (EUROPEAN) SPECIFICATIONS, RELEVANT TO HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION

CARRIAGEWAY SLURRY MACADAM / MICRO ASPHALT

FOOTWAY SLURRY SEAL

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SURFACE DRESSING

26th. May 2009
The page, 
PROPRIETARY "THIN SURFACING" & "NEGATIVE TEXTURED SURFACE" BITUMINOUS MIXTURES
has received important information in relation to the recent changes in the availability of "Guideline Documents"  for Thin Surface Course Systems, the requirement for a longer guarantee period on Motorway and Trunk Roads networks, and the the initial texture depth requirements for surface course on Motorways and Trunk Roads.

I hope that you have also noticed that all pages should now be able to be successfully (more or less) viewed at a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels, and hopefully at most other similar aspect ratios.

29th. April 2009
The page,  A GUIDE TO WHAT REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE COUNTY SURVEYORS SOCIETY  has received additional introductory text, and some improvement in presentation of content.

27th. April 2009
I am slowly updating all the pages on the website with regard to their formatting, this is so that pages will present better in other screen resolutions than 800 x 600 pixels, for which the pages were optimised. The pages displayed at other resolutions will not be perfect but they will be better, certainly at 1024 x 768 pixels, and hopefully at other resolutions also.
Whilst performing this process pages may receive some updating, if it is slight I will not mention it here.
The pages, 
A GUIDE TO AVAILABLE (BITUMEN) COATED MACADAMS
and
BITUMINOUS MIXTURES / PROCESS DIAGRAMS
have received updating worth a mention.

16th. February 2009
The page  PATCHING WITH BITUMINOUS MATERIALS  has received some updating.

20th. January 2009
The page  A GUIDE TO "TRL" PREFIXED REPORTS RELEVANT TO HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE  
has received reference to new, interesting and topical, TRL Published Project Reports (PPR's)

30th. November 2008
I try to create as few new pages as possible, I think there are enough pages already, however to draw a conclusion to the "case study" I have been following on generic bituminous mixtures laid thinly I have produced the page,
FAILED THIN 6MM. BITUMINOUS WEARING COURSE ON A SECOND SITE, 9 YEARS AFTER LAYING
On the above page I have shown the nature of the failure, and non failure. I have discussed the possible reasons of the failure, and the reasons why it has remained durable for a considerable period of time in some areas of the site.
I have also taken the opportunity to discuss a number of aspects on "real" highways maintenance, and the bituminous materials that I prefer, to ensure the longevity of a surface course on a highly stressed site.
I hope that you find this page of interest.

9th. November 2008
Additional items of news have been placed on the  Autumn 2008 Newsletter.

22nd. October 2008
The page, 
"TRL" PREFIXED REPORTS RELEVANT TO HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE, GIVING AN INDICATION OF THEIR CONTENT
has received an update, with reference to TRL Road Notes. 
Two of them being the recently published TRL Road Notes 41 & 42. 
I have only had access to, TRL Road Note 42 - Best Practice Guide for the Durability of Asphalt Pavements, 
and found it contained a large amount of excellent advice and guidance. 
I strongly recommend that you read the entire document from front cover to back cover to obtain all the information that you can derive from the document.
However I personally would not regard the content as "specific" advice, but more a reference to general good practice. I also feel that it does not sufficiently embrace the recently encountered problems with the "new" bituminous mixtures employed in the construction and maintenance of road pavements, an opportunity missed, but perhaps it was not the remit of this focus group.
Road Notes 41 & 42 are available to be downloaded free from the TRL website, providing you supply them with fairly comprehensive personal details. I do not recommend this route to obtain a copy, but I leave it to you to decide.
Perhaps access to these documents will be placed on the Highways Agency website as HA personnel were amongst those steering the "Best Practice Focus Group", that supplied advice, which helped in the preparation of the Guide.
The submission of personnel details is not required to download the majority of the free specification/guidance documents on the Highways Agency website, www.standardsforhighways.co.uk.

12th. October 2008
The page  BITUMINOUS MIXTURES / PROCESS DIAGRAMS  has received additional text relevant to recent changes in initial texture depth requirements of road surfaces.

20th. September 2008
Important information has been added to the following page,  SKID RESISTANCE AND HIGH FRICTION SURFACING  relevant to recent changes in initial texture depth requirements of road surfaces.

19th. September 2008
The page  ROAD SALT FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE  has received an update of a considerable amount of relevant information, including useful links.

11th. September 2008
I have added some extra text to my "advert" for  Aspho-Chip' & 'Aspho-Chipless,  this is prompted because of conversions I have had with old contractor acquaintances who tell me hot rolled asphalt is making a comeback, it has never gone away in my locality.

9th. September 2008
The page  SPREAD RATES OF BITUMINOUS MIXTURES, DENSITY, VOIDS  has received further text and references.

28th. August 2008
The page  THE LAYING AND APPEARANCE OF 14MM. STONE MASTIC ASPHALT (SMA)  has received further informative text.

25th. August 2008
The page  BITUMINOUS (THERMOPLASTIC) MATERIAL TEMPERATURES  has received significant updating.

11th. August 2008
The page  THE LAYING AND APPEARANCE OF 14MM. STONE MASTIC ASPHALT (SMA)  has received significant updating text.

25th. July 2008
Important additions have been made to the pages,
A GUIDE TO THE SKID RESISTANCE OF HIGHWAY SURFACES, AS INDIVIDUAL TOPICS
and
SKID RESISTANCE AND HIGH FRICTION SURFACING

6th. July 2008
For the first time I have included an update item in a past newsletter, none of the existing text has been altered.
I have done this because "Google Analytics" tells me that this is an often accessed page, and I believe the added item is supportive of the existing text.
So, the newsletter,   Summer Edition 2006   has received a well indicated update item.

6th. July 2008
The page,   LINKS TO SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON OFFICIAL AND SEMI-OFFICIAL WEBSITES   has received an additional topic to direct access to the BBA/HPAS website, this is to indicate where it is possible to download the assessment "Guidelines Documents" for various HAPAS certificated products, including the item, "Guidelines Document for the Assessment and Certification of Thin Surfacing Systems" 

5th. July 2008
The page  HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY PRODUCT APPROVAL SCHEME, (HAPAS)  has received an important update relating to the recently provided facility from BBA of downloading the assessment "Guidelines Documents" for various HAPAS certificated products, including the item, "Guidelines Document for the Assessment and Certification of Thin Surfacing Systems" 
While on the BBA website you may like to download, BBA HAPAS Information Bulletins Nos. 1 & 2

4th. July 2008
The page  A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SURFACE DRESSING  has received additional text, downloads, and images to complete a significant updating of this page.

29th. June 2008
The page  A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SURFACE DRESSING  has received additional text to provide information on the recently published 6th. edition of, Road Note 39 - Design Guide for Surface Dressing.
Other minor updates have taken place, but a complete appraisal of the page has not taken place at this time.

26th. June 2008
The page  SURFACE DRESSING BY PICTURES - SOME BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE PROCESS  has received significant amounts of extra text and some new images.

12th. June 2008
The page  A LIST OF ITEMS THAT WILL GIVE YOU A GUIDE TO SURFACE DRESSING  has received considerable updating, and the addition of further text where appropriate.

2nd. June 2008
The page  SAMPLING MATERIALS USED IN HIGHWAYS CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE  has received updating with some additional text.

1st. June 2008
The page  ROAD SALT FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE  has received updating with additional text.

29th. May 2008
The page  RUBBERISED HOT ROLLED ASPHALT WEARING COURSE  has received updating and extra text.

19th. May 2008
The page  ROAD SURFACE RETEXTURING PROCESSES  has received some extra text and images.

6th.May 2008
The page, 
A LIST OF ITEMS GIVING GUIDANCE TO RECYCLING IN HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE & CONSTRUCTION
has received significant revision and additional text.

29th. April 2008
The page  BITUMINOUS MIXTURES / PROCESS DIAGRAMS  has received additional text.

28th. April 2008
The page RECYCLING IN HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE - OFF SITE RECYCLING  has received a substantial amount of additional text.

23rd. April 2008
The page,  PROPRIETARY "THIN SURFACING" & "NEGATIVE TEXTURED SURFACE", BITUMINOUS MIXTURES  
has received revision and additional text.

17th. April 2008
The page  MODIFIED BITUMEN AND BITUMINOUS MATERIALS  has received some revision and addition of text.

15th. April 2008
The page  PATCHING WITH BITUMINOUS MATERIALS  has received some revision and a considerable amount of new text.

13th. April 2008
The page  COMPACTION TESTING  has received some additional text and updating. 

11th. April 2008
Some reformatting, and the inclusion of additional text,  has occurred to the page,  
A BRIEF PHILOSOPHY OF BITUMINOUS MATERIAL PRODUCTION AND LAYING.

7th. April 2008
Further text has been added to the page  THIS IS A GUIDE TO SOME ASPECTS OF ROAD NOISE.

3rd. April 2008
I have added one or two further comments regarding highways maintenance/engineering "news" on the, 
NEWSLETTERS  page.

28th. March 2008
The page,  JOINT AND CRACK SEALING has received some changes.

19th. March 2008
The page, STONE MASTIC ASPHALT (SMA),  A STUDY IN PICTURES  has received additional text.

18th. March 2008
The page, 20MM. HOT ROLLED ASPHALT PRECOATS - SPREAD RATES  has received some further descriptive text, including a slight change in the page title.

16th. March 2008
The page,
HOT ROLLED ASPHALT AND ASPHALT CONCRETE (BITUMEN MACADAM), INFORMATION PRESENTED AS INDIVIDUAL TOPICS,    has received considerable revision and updating.

13th. March 2008
The page  HOT ROLLED ASPHALT AND PRECOATED CHIPPINGS  has been updated and received additional text.

7th. March 2008
The two menus of web pages, that mainly consist of images of processes and materials, have now been combined in one menu,
PAGES THAT ARE MAINLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES
now that all the images are of .jpg format.

18th. February 2008
The page, ROAD PAVEMENT AND FOOTWAY DESIGN has been updated.

17th. February 2008
The pages, 
ROAD PAVEMENT INVESTIGATION BY CORING
and 
A GUIDE TO REPORTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CSS (FORMERLY THE COUNTY SURVEYORS' SOCIETY)
have received updates.

16th. February 2008
The page, 
PICTURES OF CORES THROUGH BITUMINOUS ROAD PAVEMENTS, 
AND NOTES ON HIGH MODULUS (STIFF) DENSE BITUMEN MACADAM BASE (ROADBASE)
has had a general updating.

27th. January 2008
The pages, 
THIS IS A GUIDE TO AVAILABLE (BITUMEN) COATED MACADAMS, AS SPECIFIED IN,
BS 4987: COATED MACADAM (ASPHALT CONCRETE) FOR ROADS AND OTHER PAVED AREAS
and
THIS IS A GUIDE TO AVAILABLE HOT ROLLED ASPHALT MATERIALS, AS SPECIFIED IN, 
BS 594:HOT ROLLED ASPHALT FOR ROADS AND OTHER PAVED AREAS
have received important updates in the text in relation to the recent changes in specifying bituminous mixtures.

26th. January 2008
The page RECYCLING BITUMINOUS MATERIALS IN HOT MIX PROCESSES  has received additional text.

14th. January 2008
Changes, and inclusions, have been made to the following pages,
SITE MAP
A BROAD COMPARISON OF BITUMINOUS SURFACING MATERIALS
BRITISH STANDARD BITUMINOUS MIXTURES, THAT CAN BE LAID THINLY

8th. January 2008
The  Winter 2007/8 Newsletter has now been placed on the website.

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