ARRA Was Back In-Person for the 2021 Semi-Annual Meeting

The Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA) held its 2021 Semi-Annual Meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, October 4-7. With close to 175 registered attendees including contractors, suppliers, and 42 government agency representatives, attendees learned from industry leaders, took part in a virtual plant tour of Ingevity, participated in various committee meetings, and enjoyed an off-site reception at the South Carolina Aquarium.

A special “thank you” to the generous sponsors that made the meeting possible. Wirtgen Group sponsored the Registration Bags and Lanyards, as well as the COVID Safe Sponsorship. The Industry Tour was sponsored by BOMAG. Caterpillar sponsored the South Carolina Aquarium Reception. Our Keynote Speaker was sponsored by Astec Industries. Attendees’ room keys were sponsored by The Miller Group. WiFi was sponsored Superior Tire and Rubber. Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions and Ingevity were the Videography Sponsors. The Mobile App used throughout the week was sponsored by Southeast Cement Promotion Association. Highway Rehab Corp. sponsored the facemasks provided to all attendees. General Sponsors included: BLS Enterprises, Inc., Forta Corp., Gallagher Asphalt, Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Nouryon, Rock Solid, and Slurry Pavers.

Keynote and presentations included:

• Keynote Presentation by Rick DeBruhl, Rick DeBruhl LLC on the link between Communication and Innovation
• Loyd Amos, King Asphalt, Laura Kline, SCDOT, and Scott Baldwin, SCDOT, on Cold In-Place Recycling on US 123
• Loyd Amos, King Asphalt, and Laura Kline, SCDOT, discussed advances in FDR being used in South Carolina
• South Carolina Secretary of Transportation, Christy Hall, gave an update on South Carolina’s current and future infrastructure plans
• Dan Schellhammer, Midstate Reclamation, and Justin Ramsey, NDDOT, presented on overcoming obstacles to innovation.
• Ben Bowers, NCAT, shared with attendees how NCAT’s test sections led to helping build a recycling specification and participation in AASHTO Committee
• Clint Link and Nick de Palma with the City of Greenville, SC share how the City of Greenville, SC was the first agency in the state to utilize hot in-place recycling and how the project was selected.
• Brian Diefenderfer, Virginia Transportation Research Council, presenter on cold central plant recycling and NCHRP 9-62 conclusions.
• Tom Scullion, TTI, gave attendees a closer look at the evaluation and design procedures developed and implemented to minimize the risk of pavement failures using full depth reclamation
• Mark Stahl, Wirtgen, shared recent advances in full depth reclamation which allow for quality improvement of the process while simultaneously increasing the benefit gap between conventional construction practices and pavement recycling
• Michael Concannon, Pavement Recycling Systems, gave a presentation on RAP in California
• Greg Peckham, Peckham Industries, shared with attendees Peckham Industries’ experience in the Northeast US with CIR and how they have been able to provide significant cost savings and value compared to conventional practices
• Brian Girouard, Trimble, shared an innovative approach to improve project smoothness and outcomes
• Sheila Hines, Georgia DOT, presented on utilizing micro milling to improve pavement smoothness while stretching budgets
• Jason Trotter, International Cybernetics, shared emerging technologies in enhanced data collection and quality management leading to increased engineered cold planing
• Buzz Powell, NCAT, shared lessons learned from Lee Co Rd 159, US 280, and 70^th St
• Stephen Sebesta, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, explained to attendees how harmonized FDR mix design approaches can streamline lab testing and broaden the range of selecting stabilizing agents
• Jenna Bowers, Ingevity, gave a presentation on the environmental and human health benefits on CIR

Ingevity helped organize a virtual tour of their plant in North Charleston. The tour included an up-close tour of the Ingevity plant and labs, as well as sessions on emulsifier research and development, basic soap prep, milling, and basic emulsion testing, and cold recycling mix design, performance testing, and common challenges in the field.

It would not be an ARRA Semi-Annual Meeting without some fun and networking opportunities! Attendees were treated to a cocktail reception at the South Carolina Aquarium, with full access to all aquarium exhibits and views of the Charleston Coast. Many attendees also found time to explore historic Charleston and appreciate all that the city has to offer!

Members and attendees have access to PDF versions of the presentations on www.arra.org. All presentations were videotaped and will be added to the website once available.