ForConstructionPros.com

Almost every astute asphalt contractor builds in a little contingency time when estimating a project. They know the weather factor is something over which they have no control. But even for Sunbelt Asphalt Surfaces Inc. of Atlanta, three hurricanes and two major cloudbursts stretched that contingency time a bit much!

The general contractor, in fact, had to rework the track and field site on four different occasions during the hurricane onslaught because the excess rainfall destabilized the soil and crushed stone base. This ultimately delayed Sunbelt's work on the project.

Sunbelt Asphalt had a subcontract with Conner Brothers Construction Co., the general contractor on Phase II of the new $5.5-million Auburn University track and field facility. Their work involved the majority of paving on the new 400-meter track including final fine grading the earth subgrade, installation of an 8-inch course of crushed stone and two levels of hot mix asphalt. The running track's special surface course would be put down by another specialty subcontractor.

Located deep in the rolling hills of East Alabama, Auburn University is one of the South's premier land grant institutions. In 1856 the university first opened its doors for 80 students and a faculty of six. Today Auburn is the largest university in Alabama, with an enrollment of approximately 22,000. Students hail from all 50 states and nearly 100 foreign countries.

The actual site of the new track and field facility was previously used for a few years as the University's landfill, thereby at least doubling the compaction density factor required in building the track and field facility.