Replacement vs Reclamation
The process of removing and replacing asphalt pavement is called full-depth removal and replacement. In this operation, existing asphalt pavement is exported, stone bases or dirt are removed, and new stone bases and asphalt pavement are installed. Pavement and stone materials are loaded by excavators or loaders and hauled off-site. All of the new stone base is transported back to the site with the help of dump trucks. Afterwards, the asphalt is shipped to a local asphalt producer, which crushes it and reuses it in new asphalt pavement. The stone and dirt material are disposed of as waste. Typically, discarded material is of no value and there is a disposal charge for the owner. A new stone base is crushed from virgin material, loaded, and then shipped to the site. The costs of removal, installation, and material processing can add up fast between the equipment, labor, and trucking requirements. However, full-depth pavement reclamation avoids many of these problems. During this pr...