Editor's Note: In-person coverage of this event was provided by CalAPA Technical Director Brandon Milar, P.E.

California brought plenty of technical firepower last week at the 101st meeting of the influential Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) in Reno, NV.

The international contingent of asphalt pavement and materials experts descended upon California's neighbor to the east March 10-13 as AAPT kicked off their second century as the premier organization focused on the advanced study of asphalt materials and pavements.

The meeting focused on the presentation of current research projects and networking with asphalt pavement stakeholders. Topics of discussion included field evaluations of Balanced Mix Design (BMD), evaluation of mixtures with high recycle content, moisture sensitivity, performance modeling, and asphalt binder testing and characterizing.

Noted experts from California, including several CalAPA "Hall of Fame" members, in attendance included: Larry Santucci (pictured with CalAPA's Brandon Milar), Gary Hicks, Rita Leahy and Pascal Mascarenas. CSU Chico Associate Professor Kun Zhang assisted in moderating the Symposium session on Advancing Asphalt. This session focused on the practical application of research in the field.

Marty McNamera, Caltrans Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee (PMPC) Balanced Mix Design (BMD) work-product group Industry representative, provided a contractor overview of the recently completed Sacramento I-5 Long-Life asphalt pavement project that has received widespread acclaim. Other sessions included extensive discussions on BMD. This included Asphalt Institute Regional Engineer Jhony Habbouche, fresh off his presentations at the CalAPA Spring Conference in Pomona in February. He shared the findings of a project that he was involved in in Virginia. This presentation focused on the use of full-scale accelerated pavement testing of fatigue for BMD. Part of this information was shared at the CalAPA Spring Conference.

Professor Ellie Hajj from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) shared insight into UNR's study on developing a BMD conditioning method that works within a reasonable timeframe for production Quality Assurance (QA).

As part of the annual meeting, students prepared poster boards that provide an overview of their research. This year’s session included Hanyu Deng from U.C. Davis, who provided results of a research study on the cracking performance of asphalt mixtures with 100% Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP).

Along with the incredible knowledge share on asphalt research, AAPT participants also spent time networking at a visit to a local brewery/distillery and at the annual banquet. The banquet celebrating the wide-open spaces of Northern Nevada carried a western theme. Many wore their finest Western garb, including boots, buckles and hats, as they celebrated the AAPT's latest inductees into the Life Member category, including University of California Pavement Research Center Director John Harvey. Next year's AAPT Annual Meeting is scheduled to take place March 23-26, 2026 in Boston. To learn more about AAPT, click HERE.

Registration is now open for one of the most anticipated asphalt industry events of the year, CalAPA's "Summit at the Summit -- Executive Leadership Forum" to be held June 17-19 on the shores of scenic Lake Tahoe. Space is limited for this exclusive event, so early registration is strongly recommended. The event registration page is HERE.

Last year's event drew rave reviews for its top-notch content, activities and solid-gold entertainment. The most repeated comments heard from attendees in 2024 were "you MUST do this again next year" and "I'm bringing my whole family next time."

The event is designed for industry executives and influencers, and their families, to provide a nice "half time" break in the construction season to refresh, be inspired and network with fellow asphalt industry leaders. The event is open to CalAPA members, their families, and invited guests only.

Confirmed featured speakers this year include Miguel Galarza, president of Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction who also serves as vice chair of the Contractors' State License Board, and Kiana Valentine, executive director of Transportation California, a pro-transportation federation of groups including CalAPA. A detailed timed agenda of speakers and topics will be posted soon.

The Summit will take place at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, NV. CalAPA has once again negotiated discounted rates for lodging as well as reduced fees for parking and resort fees for Summit attendees. As was the case last year, the event will also feature an optional charity golf tournament, with proceeds benefitting the newly minted CalAPA charity, the California Asphalt Research & Education (CARE) Foundation.

Just like last year, the "Summit" will also feature an epic lineup of entertainment and activities, and plenty of time to enjoy all the extracurricular activities Lake Tahoe has to offer. A promotional video about the 2024 event is HERE.

Space is limited, so early registration is strongly recommended for this exclusive event. More information about the 2025 Summit is HERE.

Nigerian transportation official Andrew Onoja, an attendee of past CalAPA events who has become an unofficial ambassador for the industry, has been admitted into the U.C. Davis Master of Science program in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Asphalt Insider has learned.

A March 7 letter to Onoja starts off with the one word that every college applicant wants to hear on such letters, "Congratulations!" It was followed by a March 10 offer of employment as a graduate student researcher for 2025-26 academic year. He is pictured (right) talking to Dr. John Harvey, director of the U.C. Pavement Research Center (left) at a CalAPA event in Sacramento as Ian Broddrick with Alta Vista looks on.

Onoja still has some hurdles ahead of him prior to arriving in California, including obtaining a visa, which has become increasingly complex of late. His determination, as well as a growing legion of fans, no doubt will weigh heavily in his favor.

Onoja first gained local notice in 2014 as an expert about asphalt pavements from the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency in Nigeria who, on his own initiative, traveled to California to attend the CalAPA Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference in Ontario. He so impressed everyone he met that he was extended an open invitation to return, which he did several times over the next few years, with the most recent visit last year. His compelling backstory earned him a spot in the CalAPA association magazine, "California Asphalt." That issue is on-line HERE.

Past CalAPA Chairman Mike Herlax, one of Onoja's many fans, noted that Onoja has become a "very valuable asset" to the asphalt community in California, and sees great things for him in the future. "In the past two years Andrew and I have developed a strong relationship," Herlax said. "We talk a lot about asphalt. He is very passionate about all things asphalt."

A memorial service for longtime asphalt industry leader Delton "Del" Crandell will be held Saturday, April 12 in Whittier.

Crandell, an avid motorcyclist, died unexpectedly Feb. 22 during a trip to retrieve his motorcycle in South America after participating in a ride, his family said. He was 65.

Crandell is well-known in the asphalt industry in California as the CEO since 1983 of C&C Transportation, based in Bellflower, which specializes in transporting asphalt and related products, as well as other services.

According to the C&C website, C&C transportation was founded in 1949 by Frank Crandell with a single truck. Crandell started out in the family-owned business at age 16 with his father, "Dickey" Crandell, and they worked "to expand their market and grow the business to its success today." With his vast experience, the website notes, "Del is usually sought after for consulting and referred to as an industry expert."

At the time of his death he was running the company with his eldest daughter, Anastasia. A longtime member of CalAPA whose opinions were enormously influential, he was recently interviewed by the association as part of CalAPA's biannual member satisfaction survey and follow-up outreach. His most recent appearance at a CalAPA event was at the Annual Dinner Jan. 16 at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles where he could be seen flashing his trademark smile as he reconnected with many friends, colleagues and business associates.

A memorial service for Crandell will be held Saturday, April 12 at the SkyRose Chapel, 3888 Workman Mill Road in Whittier, which is part of the Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary. Viewing will be at noon, with the service beginning at 1 p.m. A reception will be held immediately after the service.

Editor's Note: This publication covered an important March 3 Joint Legislative Hearing on transportation funding in Sacramento in person. Our published report that appeared in a previous issue of Asphalt Insider is HERE. In the course of covering this event, this reporter took copious hand-written notes on a new tablet that included a feature where Artificial Intelligence will translate and summarize the notes. Admittedly the author's penmanship resembles ancient sanskrit, but it was nevertheless worth a try. What follows is one page of summarized notes from the hearing, word for word, as they were interpreted by A.I. Or as we have come to regard it, "A.I. on acid."

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This publication is accepting nominations as to which snippet of the above hallucinogenic "summary" would make the best bumper sticker.

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.

PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE (PCC): A composite material that consists essentially of Portland cement and water as a binding medium in which is mixed coarse and fine particles of crushed stone.

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.

PAVING OPERATION: Ask yourself: Is the equipment properly maintained and in proper working

order? Does the foreman have a paving plan (i.e., the paving lanes and passes are painted out and

a roller pattern has been established)?

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.

UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Call for countries to tackle climate

action, life and justice issues.

"Never apologize for having high standards. People who really want to be in your life will rise up to meet them."



– Ziad K. Abdelnour

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.

Sincerely,

Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®