Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA) Awards 2025 Special Recognition Winners

GLEN ELLYN, IL, March 21, 2025- During the 49th Annual Meeting of the Asphalt Recycling & Reclaiming Association (ARRA), March 4-7, 2025, in Racho Mirage, CA, ARRA congratulated three individuals as recipients of the 2024 ARRA Special Recognition Awards.

Each year, through the ARRA Special Recognition Awards, ARRA recognizes public officials and consulting engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the asphalt recycling and reclaiming industry.  Nominations are submitted by ARRA members and the ARRA technical committees review all nominations and select the award winners.  

The first recipient was DPW- Henrico County, Virginia as the 2025 Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Full Depth Reclamation. Henrico County, which is located in the Richmond metro area, maintains a road network primarily made up of narrow, deteriorating secondary roads. In response, the team developed an innovative FDRc program that has reclaimed 50 lane-miles with a two-inch asphalt overlay. The program uses a unique procurement process, contracting on an on-call, lump-sum, per mile basis, and encourages paver placement for expedited construction. This cost-effective solution saves $11.75 million compared to traditional reconstruction methods, which typically cost $450,000 to $500,000 per lane-mile.

The 2025 Special Recognition Award for Excellence in Hot In-Place Recycling was presented to Cody Holemo with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation for his work on I-90, specifically the Sturbridge to Auburn project. This project covered 10 miles of interstate with an estimated cost of $31 million, including bridge work. With daily traffic of 100K to 130K vehicles and a truck volume of 16-18%, the project had a significant impact on maintaining infrastructure. The original plan was a 2.5” mill and overlay, with an additional 1.5” mill and fill to address transverse cracking.  However, the team revised the plan to replace the 1.5” mill and fill with 2” Hot In-Place Recycling for improved efficiency and longevity. In Year 1, they completed the eastern half of the project, approximately 5 miles and 75,000 square yards. This project showcases innovation and cost-effectiveness in maintaining critical infrastructure.

The final receipt was Dewey Kennedy, Roadmaster, with Gilliam County Road Department (GCRD) for the 2025 Charles R. Valentine Award for Excellence in Cold Recycling. Since 2010, GCRD has paved over 115 miles of roads in north central Oregon, with 70 miles of those being 100% Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP). They pioneered the use of ODOT RAP from I-84, addressing challenges like developing a VOC-free emulsion and creating a mix design that could withstand the heavy traffic from wind farms and harvest vehicles. The roads placed in 2010 are still in service, requiring only chip seal maintenance. 

GCRD's efforts have led to significant cost savings — $38,000 in mix costs and $144,000 in transportation costs for every 2,000 tons of mix produced. This innovative approach has allowed the county to complete projects that would have been otherwise out of reach. While other counties converted old pavements to gravel, GCRD transformed gravel into high-performing CCPR pavements.  Mr. Kennedy, the longest-serving County Roadmaster in Oregon, has been key to the acceptance of CCPR, not only in Gilliam County but also in surrounding and out-of-state counties. 

ABOUT THE ASPHALT RECYCLING & RECLAIMING ASSOCIATION (ARRA):

Incorporated in September 1976, ARRA’s primary function has been to promote the recycling of existing roadway materials through various construction methodologies, to preserve limited natural resources and reduce costs. This ongoing effort continues through education, strategic alliances and partnering at both the industry and agency level.

ARRA is a founding member of the Pavement Preservation & Recycling Alliance (PPRA) along with the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association and the International Slurry Surfacing Association. PPRA is a partnership of leading industry associations (AEMA, ARRA, ISSA) to advance sustainable, eco efficient, and innovative pavement applications.

To learn more, visit www.arra.org or call us at 630-942-6578.

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