Throughout Alaska, potholes are almost always in season

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Raymond Mills
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Being stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson comes with various challenges. Severe winters, hot summers and constant use take their toll on JBER's road systems, which can result in potholes and other issues.

When it comes to dealing with damaged roads, look no further than the 773d Civil Engineers.

"The horizontal construction section of the 773d CES is responsible for a myriad of functions," said Dennis Sessler, 773d CES heavy repair foreman. "It seems that we have a hand in almost every aspect of the mission to include maintaining all JBER roads, all parking lots, airfield pavements, fence lines and ground maintenance."

During the warm season engineers focus on repairing damaged infrastructure.

Sessler said, "During the non-winter seasons we employ less personnel and we log over 90,000 man hours. There is a cost associated with both civilian and military personnel - the cost for material and supplies to maintain all of JBER for our section is around $4 million annually."

In an effort to reduce costs, increase efficiency and better protect the environment, an asphalt recycler, a hot storage trailer, and an infrared asphalt heater have been added to the inventory. The new equipment will enable crews to recycle old asphalt by reheating it; by using old shingles as a bonding agent, they can produce hot mix, a more durable form of asphalt.

"In past years, due to technology, we were relegated to purchasing cold mix asphalt so we could complete winter season pothole repairs," Sessler said. "Cold mix asphalt remains flexible even during cold months. The temporary repairs made during the winter season must be replaced with hot mix asphalt during the following summer to ensure a permanent repair. Our average expenditures on cold mix asphalt were $50 to $70 thousand per fiscal year. The purchase price of the trio of asphalt repair equipment will show a real-world savings in less than 18 months.

"Recycled asphalt only costs around $4 to $8 per ton to reheat the material into usable form," Sessler said. "The cold mix we used to purchase averaged around $3,600 per ton."

In addition to the environmental and financial benefits, there is also a safety impact as crews spend less time on the roads fixing the same issues. 

"The equipment benefits our mission," said Dan Mallonee, 773d Civil Engineer equipment operator. "By being able to create our own hot mix, we are we are able to make permanent patches which will last quite a while."

Road work happens throughout the year, and 773d engineers remind people to take their time and be cautious around road crews.

"Be safe, drive wisely and please slow down for our maintenance crews," Sessler said. "I want to remind JBER drivers to not pass our equipment during removal operations; you put yourself at risk when you do. There is a reason all our equipment is posted with signage warning drivers to stay back 50 to 75 feet.

"Our operators are working their best to provide you safe passage as your transit JBER."