The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will rectify a raveling situation on I-526 in Charleston. The deterioration is occurring on a five-mile section of the westbound lane that had been resurfaced in the fall of 2009. SCDOT inspectors and the contractor have determined that an electrical short in the connection to the asphalt-cement pump took place on the night of September 18, 2009. The electrical short compromised the mixture of asphalt. The pump and other control equipment was replaced by the contractor.

               The contractor has patched the areas where raveling has occurred and will temporarily maintain the existing pavement.  This section of the highway will be milled and resurfaced once again. However, this process can only be done when temperatures are 60 degrees or above.

               The repair is being done at the expense of the contractor and no additional funds will be provided in the contract.

            The section on I-26 that is raveling is an old section of open graded friction course that has met its life expectancy and will be replaced under this contract this summer.  Had sufficient funding been in place, the resurfacing to correct the raveling would have been done sooner.

The asphalt (Open Graded Friction Course) being placed on this project will provide a smooth riding surface, less  tire noise and less water spray from vehicles.  This has been shown to reduce accidents by 20% compared to surfaces without the OGFC. 

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