Repairing asphalt around grade-level railroad crossings can be more challenging than it looks. Here's how the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and CSX Railway approached one such repair with minimal disruption to traffic. The repair was completed in 1999 and was still performing well more than a decade later.
Railroad crossings are particularly vulnerable to pavement deterioration. Movement and moisture around the tracks can compromise the surrounding pavement, creating failures that need attention before they become larger problems. That makes EZ STREET® Ambient® Asphalt Technology a practical, performance-proven solution for spot repairs around railway crossings.
Crews began by removing all loose and unstable pavement with a John Deere backhoe. The failed area was relatively small—approximately 3 ft. by 5 ft. and 6 to 9 inches deep once excavated—but more than enough to create a serious roadway hazard.
EZ STREET® is available in 50 lb bags, 1-ton large format sacks, and loose large format. The material can be stored and kept ready for use for up to 12 months, giving maintenance crews access to asphalt when and where repairs are needed.
Once the area was cleared, EZ STREET® was placed in lifts of approximately 2 inches or less and compacted. Depending on the repair, crews can compact the material with a hand tamper, mechanical compactor, or vehicle tires. For this repair, the tires of the dump truck provided compaction.
No heating. No mixing. EZ STREET® Ambient® Asphalt Technology works in water, is thermally resilient, and is instantly ready for traffic after compaction. In this case, crews were able to complete the repair quickly, minimize traffic disruption, and put the crossing back into service.
