The Asphalt Pavement Association of West Virginia (APAWV) concluded its Annual Fall Meeting on Sunday, September 25 with a prayer breakfast featuring a message from Huntington Children’s Museum President Tosha Pelfrey. Nearly 150 members and their families attended the meeting at Canaan Valley Resort. Attendees were treated to blue skies but brisk temperatures for the weekend retreat that featured business sessions and family-oriented activities.
The Friday business session featured remarks from WVDOH State Highway Alan Reed. Mr. Reed was joined for a question and answer roundtable by WVDOH Deputy State Highway Engineers: Greg Bailey – Chief Engineer of Operations, Gehan Elsayed – Chief Engineer of Programs and Performance Management, Todd Rumbaugh – Chief Engineer of Construction, Jason Foster – Chief Engineer of Development and Joe Pack – Deputy State Highway Engineer of Districts. The day also included a golf and sporting clays tournament and evening banquet featuring Comedian and Magician Michael Kent which everyone enjoyed.
Gehan Elsayed kicked off the Saturday business session with an update on the overall program, and funding that is in the 2023 outlook. Joseph Shacat from the National Asphalt Pavement Association followed, discussing the environmental regulations and initiatives that have begun at the Federal level and are working through other agencies around the country.
Dr. John Zaniewski, WVU’s previous Asphalt Technology Professor, introduced the new Pat Parsons Asphalt Faculty Fellow, Dr. James Bryce. Dr. Bryce introduced himself to the audience and discussed the future plans of the Asphalt Technology Program at WVU.
Also, on Saturday, a WVDOH Materials update was provided by Ron Stanevich, Director, MCS&T Division and Shawn Jack, Asphalt Group Supervisor and a WVDOH Construction update was provided by Shawn Smith, Director, Contract Administration. To expand upon the e-Ticketing topics discussed by the former presenters, Sean Miller from HaulHub Technologies, discussed the WVDOH implementation plan of e-Ticketing for construction materials and how companies can gain access to the WVDOH portal.
Wrapping up the Saturday session was an open discussion on new WVDOH Specifications and Current Construction Issues led by Chad Miller, Quality Control Manager, J. F. Allen Company and Chair, CAWV Asphalt Subcommittee.
Saturday’s activities also included the annual children’s program in the morning and evening banquet with music by The Company Stores. A complete recap of the meeting and business sessions will be included in the next issue of West Virginia Construction News.