A new technology in asphalt is paving the way for roads across the country.

A new mixture, called the Superpave system, not only will reduce road repairs, it also will decrease taxpayers’ dollars.

According to Iowa State’s civil and construction engineering assistant professor Brian Coree, asphalt application has been the same since World War I.

Coree said Superpave is designed specifically for weather and traffic volumes.

“With Superpave, roads across the country will have entirely different mixes based on these conditions.”

The Superpave system, developed by the Strategic Highway Research Program, consists of performance-graded asphalt binder specification, volumetric mix design, analysis and performance prediction.

John Haggin, bituminous engineer for the Department of Transportation, said 15 test projects are taking place in Iowa, including one project east of Ames on Interstate 35.

“These completed projects are showing great success and potential,” he said.

Haggin also said the system may be utilized for successful county road projects. These Superpave mixtures would have to be modified with more materials, and that some county projects may even be cheaper, he said.

Renee White of the Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa said typical roads last 18 to 20 years, but that using Superpave will add five to 10 years of life.

With a 25 percent increase in service life, the Texas Transportation Institute projects a $2.5 billion total annual savings for state highway agencies and motorists using Superpave.

“That is a savings of $98 to $159 per dollar spent on the Superpave system,” White said.