The Superpave (SUperior PERforming Asphalt PAVEments) system was developed to give highway engineers and contractors the tools they need to design asphalt pavements that will perform better under extremes of temperature and heavy traffic loads.

Asphalt pavements account for more than 90 percent of all paved highways in the United States, and annual expenditures for asphalt pavements top $10 billion. If asphalt pavements can be designed to last longer, we stand to reap substantial benefits.

The Superpave system consists of three interrelated elements:

• Asphalt binder specification
• Volumetric mix design and analysis system
• Mix analysis tests and a performance prediction system that includes computer software, weather database, and environmental and performance models.

Maryland is a Lead State in the implementation of Superpave.

Contact:  Larry Michael      301-678-6134

[email protected]