DPWH-Tarlac tries new road construction technology

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Tarlac has piloted a new road construction technology using geotextile materials integrated in its asphalt overlay projects at a lesser cost.

“It will be a milestone in road construction technology if found durable,” said Benjie Lopez, DPWH-Tarlac first district engineer.

The DPWH said the technology was used in 441-lineal meters of asphalt overlay along Romulo Highway in Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac.

“It was a trial project technically called ‘paving fabric in longitudinal weakened plane joints.’ The Bureau of Research and Standard guided our engineers on the proper method of application,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the use of geotextile materials was “to preempt the occurrence of reflection cracks on the road pavement. Prior to the actual integration of the geotextile, pothole patching and crack sealing were done.”

“A leveling course of one-inch thick asphalt overlay ready mix was laid and applied with bituminous tack coat primer. The geotextile material was then laid on the surface and flattened using power brush to avoid air pockets on the surface,” he said.

Lopez said, “We will do constant monitoring to determine how the newly paved road will respond to the average daily traffic of vehicles.”

“If it is sturdy and responsive to the daily motoring grind, another milestone in road construction is achieved. It will mean lesser cost on the part of the government in its construction business, as it will avoid early and costly rehabilitation and reduce transport cost of the road users,” he added.

Last year, Bulacan’s first district engineering office experimented on the same paving fabric integration in its asphalt overlay project along Manila North Road in Malolos City. It was found durable and the experiment in Tarlac would corroborate the finding, Lopez said.