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QUALITY ISSUE

BEYOND VOLUMETRICS

The evolution of Balanced Mix Design

INSIDE: ‘California Asphalt Open’ golf tournament Remembering longtime industry figure Bert Wootan

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Publisher’s Letter Building a solid foundation for BMD I’m pleased to introduce this special quality-themed issue of California Asphalt, the Journal of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. In this issue we are taking a big swing at one of the most consequential engineering trends in our industry – the move toward (and beyond) Balanced Mix Design (BMD). In this issue we have assembled some impressive experts to examine the BMD issue from all angles, nationally and here in California. As a member of the CalAPA Board of Directors, and a longtime leader on the Caltrans-industry Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee (PMPC), I have helped lead the discussions on this issue, which have drawn upon the deep pool of knowledge and research done here in California that have informed our discussions. But this effort is more than just talk. Two years ago, the George Reed Co. constructed the BMD test sections at the UCPRC on the campus of the University of California, Davis. That was our way of demonstrating our support for helping advance knowledge in the BMD space based not only on research but also field tests and other practical experience. The implementation of BMD in California will not be easy, particularly given the heavy traffic loads pavements are subjected to in our state, plus the wide variety of climate conditions and construction materials sources. But I’m confident that our subject-matter experts, armed with good information, are more than up to the challenge. This magazine is celebrating its 30th anniversary as an important source of information not only for our industry but also our agency partners. That is why it is distributed so widely – to every public works official in the state – and also made available on-line. This is in alignment with CalAPA’s educational mission and goal to make useful information widely available for the benefit of all. I’d like to thank all the industry representatives who have contributed their time and expertise on the advancement of BMD and other specification and test method changes. I’d also like to invite others to participate in the meetings. I promise you will get a lot of benefit from hearing various viewpoints and helping to shape the direction of these initiatives. I’d also like to thank our colleagues at the UCPRC who have conducted their work with professionalism and have considered industry input every step of the way. Building on that knowledge is how we will ultimately arrive at the best possible specifications for our product, which benefits all taxpayers and transportation system users. And finally, I’d like to thank my fellow CalAPA members, who have made a lot of this possible.

Sincerely,

Phillip Reader George Reed Inc. 4

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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Contents Volume 30, Issue 5

Publisher’s Letter

Beyond Volumetrics

California prepares for Balanced Mix Design (BMD)

The evolution of Balanced Mix Design

Page 8

Bringing Balanced Mix Design to the airfield

Sold-out CalAPA golf tournament raises funds for asphalt charity; 1 player comes thisclose to a hole-in-one

Industry News

Page 24

Asphalt ambassador spotlight volunteer Jen Harris

2026 CalAPA Board of Directors

Member News Asphalt industry mourns the passing of beloved leader Bert Wootan On the Cover: Cover illustration by Aldo Myftari, Construction Marketing Services, LLC. with art direction by Russell Snyder, CalAPA.

THE CALIFORNIA ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION www.calapa.net

Frank Costa (Chairman)..................... Martin Marietta Chris Gerber (Vice Chair)................... G3 Quality Scott Bottomley (Treasurer)............... Sully-Miller / Blue Diamond Materials Phil Reader (Secretary)...................... Reed Family Companies Scott Metcalf (Immediate past chair)...Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Ron Criss........................................... Hat Creek Construction Tim Denlay......................................... Knife River Scott Fraser....................................... Pavement Recycling Systems Chris Handley..................................... Tullis, Inc. Gary Houston..................................... Valero Robert Jarvis..................................... Century Paving Kevin Jeffers...................................... Albina Kody King........................................... Mercer-Fraser Pete Lambert..................................... McGuire & Hester John Reid........................................... CRH Companies Eric Richard....................................... Reed & Graham

HEADQUARTERS:

P.O. Box 981300 • West Sacramento • CA 95798 (Mailing Address) 1550 Harbor Blvd., Suite 120 • West Sacramento • CA 95691 • (916) 791-5044 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Russell W. Snyder, CAE, rsnyder@calapa.net TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Brandon M. Milar, P.E., bmilar@calapa.net MEMBER SERVICE COORDINATOR: Jackie Henry, MBA, jhenry@calapa.net GUEST PUBLISHER: Phillip Reader, George Reed Inc. PUBLISHED BY: Construction Marketing Services, LLC • (909) 772-3121 P.O. Box 892977 • Temecula • CA 92589 GRAPHIC DESIGN: Aldo Myftari CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Russell W. Snyder, CAE, CalAPA, By Brandon Milar, CalAPA and Brett Williams, NAPA. ADVERTISING SALES: Kerry Hoover, CMS, (909) 772-3121 Copyright © 2026 – All Rights Reserved. No portion of this publication may be reused in any form without prior permission of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. California Asphalt is the official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. This bimonthly magazine distributes to members of the California Asphalt Pavem ent Association; contractors; construction material producers; Federal, State and Local Government Officials; and others interested in asphalt pavements in California and gaining exclusive insight about the issues, trends and people that are shaping the future of the industry.

Comments? Questions? Please visit the link below or scan the QR Code. https://www.calapa.net/contact-us.html

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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FEATURE ARTICLE

BEYOND VOLUMETRICS

The evolution of Balanced Mix Design By Elie Hajj, Ph.D.

or decades, asphalt mix design has relied heavily on volumetric properties to help engineers and producers develop mixtures expected to perform well in the field. Those methods have provided an important foundation for the industry and continue to play a critical role today. But asphalt materials, technologies and project objectives have continued to evolve. Agencies and contractors are working with higher levels of recycled materials, new additives, performanceenhancing technologies, and increasing demands for longerlasting pavements. As those changes continue, there is growing interest in understanding not only how a mixture is proportioned, but also it is expected to perform in service. That is where Balanced Mix Design, or BMD, comes in. BMD represents more than adding a cracking test and a rutting test to traditional mix design. It introduces performance-related information into decisions that have historically relied primarily on material requirements and volumetric properties. And as implementation advances, agencies are determining not only which tests to use, but how those results should influence mix design, specifications, production, and acceptance. 8

The goal is not simply to replace one set of numbers with another. It is to provide another way to evaluate whether a mixture is appropriately balanced to resist competing forms of distress, particularly rutting and cracking. Over the past several years, BMD has steadily moved from research and demonstration toward implementation. State transportation agencies across the country, including California (see sidebar), are benchmarking mixtures, establishing performance criteria, developing specifications, and determining how performance testing fits into their pavement programs. As more states gain experience with BMD, the industry is developing a better understanding of both the benefits of performance testing and the practical considerations associated with implementation. WHAT PERFORMANCE TESTING ADDS Volumetric mix design uses properties such as air voids, voids in mineral aggregate, and voids filled with asphalt to help control mixture composition. These properties provide important information about a mixture’s structure, while performance tests offer additional insight into how

the mixture may respond to traffic loading, temperature changes, and other conditions that contribute to cracking and rutting in the field. That distinction matters because mixtures that satisfy the same volumetric requirements can perform differently when tested for cracking or rutting resistance. Binder content and grade, aggregate structure, reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), recycling agents and other additives can influence performance in ways that may not be fully reflected by volumetric properties alone. Consider a mixture containing a higher percentage of RAP. Its volumetric properties may indicate that the mixture meets established design requirements. A cracking test provides another piece of information: Is the mixture sufficiently resistant to cracking? A rutting test addresses a complementary question: Is the mixture sufficiently resistant to permanent deformation? That balance matters. Increasing binder content or using a softer binder, for example, may improve cracking resistance while also affecting rutting resistance. Performance testing gives designers a practical way to evaluate those competing characteristics as they adjust a mixture. This does not mean volumetrics have failed or are

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Above: Volumetric properties describe mixture composition. Left: BMD evaluates the balance between rutting and cracking. Right: Example of rutting on an asphalt core. Source: National Asphalt Pavement Association.

no longer valuable. Instead, BMD adds another lens for evaluating increasingly diverse mixture components and combinations. Derek Nener-Plante, principal of DNP Infrastructure LLC, sees that additional information becoming particularly important as agencies pursue multiple objectives. NenerPlante is a former Federal Highway Administration pavement and materials engineer who helps lead national BMD implementation and deployment efforts, “Balanced Mix Design could serve as a more effective guard rail for performance,” NenerPlante said. Agencies may be pursuing engineering, resiliency, environmental, and economic goals

at the same time, he explained, but performance still must remain at the center of those decisions. “The most sustainable thing that we can do is make something that lasts,” he said. That connection is particularly relevant as agencies explore greater use of recycled and innovative materials. Nener-Plante said many agencies are looking at BMD as a potential “vehicle” for accepting higher recycling contents while maintaining confidence in performance. Over time, he said, the same approach could be applied to different aggregate sources and other materials that may not fit neatly within traditional specifications.

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

HOW BMD IS TAKING SHAPE Most BMD frameworks are built around balancing critical performance characteristics. In many cases, that balance involves cracking and rutting resistance, although agencies may also consider other distress mechanisms depending on their needs and priorities. Together, these tests help designers assess whether adjustments intended to improve one performance characteristic may affect another. There is not, however, one national BMD test or one prescribed pair of tests used by every agency. States have been evaluating different performance tests based on factors such as 9

Above Left: Hamburg Wheel-Tracking Test. Above Right: High-temperature indirect tensile test jig. Left: Asphalt Pavement Analyzer. Right: Indirect tensile cracking test. Source: FHWA

the climate, traffic, materials, dominant distress mechanisms, laboratory capabilities, test variability, and the time required to produce results. Cracking tests in use or under evaluation around the country include the IDEAL-CT, semi-circular bend test, and Illinois Flexibility Index Test, or I-FIT. Rutting evaluation can include tests such as the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test, Asphalt Pavement Analyzer, and IDEAL-RT. These tests differ in equipment, specimen preparation, conditioning procedures, testing time, and the performance characteristics they are intended to assess. As a result, BMD implementation has generally followed a phased approach, integrating performance testing into established mix design practices while allowing agencies to increase their reliance on those tests over time. The new tiered framework, formalized in AASHTO PP 130, Standard Practice for Balanced Mix Design of Asphalt Mixtures Using a Tiered Framework, provides a 10

common way to describe that progression. Agencies can begin by using mechanical tests alongside existing volumetric and material requirements, then gradually increase mix design flexibility as confidence grows in the tests, criteria, and their relationship to field performance. (AASHTO stands for the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials; PP stands for the transitionary “Provisional Practice”). Importantly, the tiers reflect how much reliance is placed on mechanical testing for a particular performance characteristic, rather than assigning a single level to an entire BMD program. This allows agencies to advance at different rates for cracking, rutting, and other performance concerns based on their experience, available data, and local priorities. The industry is not simply replacing one nationally standardized mix design procedure with another. Instead, PP 130 provides a consistent framework while agencies determine which performance characteristics are most important,

which tests are appropriate for their conditions, and how mechanical test results should interact with existing volumetric, constituent, and construction requirements. Selecting a test is also only part of the process. Agencies should establish performance criteria supported by laboratory results, mixture experience, and, ultimately, observed field performance. CREATING ROOM FOR INNOVATION The evolution toward BMD represents a significant shift in how asphalt mixtures are designed and evaluated. Performance results can provide another basis for decisions about not only the mixture itself, but eventually the specifications surrounding it. Steve Jackson of N.B. West Contracting summarized what many producers see as the promise of BMD in three words during a National Asphalt Pavement Association Pave It Black podcast: “innovation, sustainability, and performance.” [ Continued on page 12 ]

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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But realizing that potential requires more than simply adding performance tests to an existing specification. Jackson identified the volume of testing as a primary concern for contractors. Industry is interested in using performance testing to create room for innovation while recognizing that important existing requirements, such as inplace density, still serve a valuable purpose. Nener-Plante sees the same question from the agency side. “BMD allows people to be more innovative,” he said. “The question then becomes: ‘What in our existing specifications still matters?’” That question is central to the ongoing evolution of BMD. Rather than simply replacing traditional requirements, agencies and producers are evaluating which continue to provide essential information, which may warrant modification, and how performance criteria should influence the design, specification, production, and acceptance of asphalt mixtures. BEYOND MIX DESIGN As BMD implementation advances, performance testing is increasingly being considered beyond initial mix design, including during production and acceptance. In fact, the name “Balanced Mix Design” may not fully capture how broadly the concept can be applied. “Balanced Mix Design seems to infer that it’s only about mix design, but it’s really not. It goes beyond that,” Nener-Plante said. Extending performance testing into production and acceptance raises a new set of practical questions. How frequently should testing occur? How much variability is acceptable? How quickly can results be produced? Which tests are practical for routine use? And how should performance results be incorporated into acceptance specifications? 12

Before those questions can be fully answered, agencies must establish confidence in the performance tests criteria themselves. “We need to get to good, rational criteria that get us performance in the field,” NenerPlante said. “You’ve got to be able to tie that new test to field performance. You can’t just pick the number out of the air.” Establishing criteria involves more than selecting specification limits. It requires a structured validation process that links laboratory test results to observed field performance and provides confidence that the criteria will support desired pavement outcomes. The consequences work in both directions. A criterion that is too restrictive could reject a mixture that has demonstrated acceptable field performance. One that is too permissive could accept a mixture that does not deliver the desired performance. That is why validation and benchmarking are so closely connected to implementation. Agencies need sufficient laboratory and field data to understand what a test result means before relying on it for consequential decisions. These discussions demonstrate how far the BMD conversation has progressed. The discussion is no longer simply about whether asphalt performance tests can provide useful information. Increasingly, the question is how that information can be incorporated into everyday pavement programs in a way that is technically sound and practical for both agencies and industry. California is already well into that evolution. Caltrans and industry have been evaluating how performance tests, criteria, and specifications can support a broader BMD framework, including opportunities to accommodate higher levels of recycled and innovative materials while

maintaining confidence in pavement performance. START WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY PRODUCE For asphalt producers preparing for BMD, one of the most practical first steps is also one of the simplest: start evaluating and testing the mixtures already being produced. “The first thing you’ve got to do is evaluate your mixes with these performance criteria,” notes Jackson of N.B. West Contracting. Benchmarking allows producers and agencies to establish a performance baseline before BMD requirements become part of a specification. Rather than immediately redesigning a successful mixture, a producer can run selected cracking and rutting tests on familiar mixtures and begin building a database of results. Producers can start by testing several commonly produced asphalt mixtures and documenting volumetric properties, constituent materials and production information alongside performance test results. Over time, these data help establish the expected range, variability, and repeatability associated with mixtures that are already well understood. That information becomes particularly valuable when performance criteria are established or validated. If a mixture with a history of good field performance consistently produces a certain range of laboratory results, those data provide useful context for determining where performance thresholds should be set. It can also help answer another important question: What moves the test result? Producers can begin observing what happens when RAP content changes, when a different binder grade or source is used, or when binder content or aggregate structure changes. If an adjustment improves cracking resistance, what happens to

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

rutting resistance? How much variability in test results exists from one production run to another? How sensitive is the test to normal changes in materials and production? Those are useful questions to explore before a performance test result is tied to acceptance or payment. Benchmarking also gives laboratories time to learn. Performance tests introduce equipment, specimen fabrication and conditioning procedures, test protocols and their own sources of variability. Running tests before they become acceptance requirements gives technicians an opportunity to gain experience and producers an opportunity to understand the repeatability of their results. Just as important, producers can begin linking laboratory results with what they already know about the observed filed performance of their mixtures. Mixtures with established performance histories provide valuable context for interpreting new performance test results and assessing whether those results properly reflect field behavior. BMD implementation, then, does not necessarily begin by designing an entirely new mixture. It can begin by learning more about the mixtures already being produced. Producers do not have to wait for a BMD specification to begin preparing. Benchmarking mixtures, documenting performance test results, understanding variability, and evaluating the effects of changes in RAP content, binder properties, and aggregate structure can all begin today. Equally important is connecting those laboratory results to documented field performance. As agencies and industry work together to establish performance criteria, that information provides a strong foundation for validation and informed implementation decisions.

WHERE BMD GOES NEXT The transition to BMD is not simply a single change from one mix design method to another. It is progression toward making pavement performance a more direct part of mix design. In other words, moving from specifications to acceptance decisions. Volumetric properties will continue to provide valuable information. Performance testing offers a more direct assessment of how changes in materials and mixture composition may affect pavement performance. The experience gained over the past several years has also changed the conversation. Instead of asking whether BMD should be implemented, agencies are increasingly focused on how to implement it: which tests to use, how to validate them, how criteria should be established, how much flexibility specifications should provide, and how performance testing can be incorporated into production and acceptance. For the asphalt industry, that evolution presents an opportunity. When implemented thoughtfully, BMD can provide room for innovation while keeping pavement performance at the center of mixture decisions. It can help producers better understand the mixtures they already make, give agencies greater confidence when considering recycled and innovative materials, and provide both sides with better information for making specification decisions. The move beyond volumetrics is not about abandoning what the industry has learned. It is about building on that foundation, using performance testing to better understand not just whether a mixture meets traditional requirements, but how it is likely to perform in the field. CA Dr. Elie Hajj is a professor of civil, chemical, and environmental engineering at the University of

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Nevada, Reno whose research focuses on asphalt materials, Balanced Mix Design, and pavement performance. REFERENCES: 1. Hajj, Elie Y., Timothy B. Aschenbrener, Derek Nener-Plante, Fan Yin and Thomas P. Harman. Balanced Mix Design of Asphalt Mixtures: Challenges & Opportunities. Federal Highway Administration/ University of Nevada, Reno, 2025. University of Nevada, Reno repository 2. Hajj, Elie Y., Ilker Boz, Stacey Diefenderfer and Fan Yin. Benefits of Balanced Mix Design: Evidence from State Implementation Efforts. Federal Highway Administration/ University of Nevada, Reno, 2025. University of Nevada, Reno repository 3. Federal Highway Administration. Balanced Asphalt Mix Design: Eight Tasks for Implementation. FHWA-HIF-22-048. FHWA report 4. Federal Highway Administration. Asphalt Mixture Design and Balanced Mix Design. Resources on BMD implementation, peer exchanges, testing and state practices. FHWA BMD resources 5. National Asphalt Pavement Association. Balanced Mix Design Resources. Guidance on BMD approaches, implementation, testing and benchmarking. NAPA BMD resources 6. National Asphalt Pavement Association. Contractors Guide to Balanced Mix Design Benchmarking (IS-148). Developed through the National Center for Asphalt Technology. NAPA IS-148 7. National Asphalt Pavement Association. “Balanced Mix Design.” Pave It Black, Season 7, Episode 2, Feb. 27, 2024. Interview with Derek Nener-Plante and Steve Jackson. The podcast is the source for the Steve Jackson quotations used in the article.

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California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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FEATURE ARTICLE / SIDEBAR

California prepares for Balanced Mix Design (BMD) By Brandon Milar

alifornia pavements face some of the highest traffic loadings and extreme environmental conditions found in the United States. To meet this demand as well as the stringent environmental regulations of material production and construction activities, asphalt pavement stakeholders need the ability to deploy the latest asphalt pavement innovations in mixtures and construction practices. Balanced Mix Design (BMD) provides a framework to assess the impact of material characteristics, recycled products, and innovative performance additives. The focus on mixture characteristics over individual component characteristics allows the designer flexibility to efficiently design mixes that meet the project demands. This also allows the agency the ability to improve the evaluation of the performance characteristics of the material that makes up their roadway asset. In 2019, the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA) hosted a BMD workshop in Sacramento, led by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT). This comprehensive overview of BMD provided the concepts, state of available testing methodologies, and implementation strategies. It was clear to industry and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) representatives that California needed to embark on this effort to meet the goals for sustainability and adoption of innovative strategies. 16

THE LEGACY BMD fits naturally in the California asphalt pavement lexicon. Caltrans in the 1920s began to utilize plant mixed asphalt mixtures in District 8 (Hveem, 1982). A young state engineer named Francis N. Hveem was tasked with evaluating this new pavement technology. He conducted pioneering evaluations of these asphalt pavements in California. To better quantify what he observed, he and his colleagues at the Caltrans materials lab developed testing methodologies that identify asphalt mixture characteristics related to pavement deformation and durability. He included the concepts of rutting and cracking resilience in the Caltrans mix design methodology. Agencies throughout California and the world adopted and still use this mix design methodology that bears his name. Building upon the Department’s success, Professor Carl Monismith focused a University of California Berkeley engineering program on asphalt pavement technology. He provided the core building blocks of asphalt pavements for many of today’s legendary asphalt pavement technologists. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Monismith led the research team and provided foundational support to Caltrans for the development and construction of California’s Long-Life pavement projects on I-710, I-80 and 3 separate I-5 projects. These projects utilized extensive mixture performance testing to design asphalt mixtures. The designs incorporated rutting and cracking

resistance for each project’s traffic and environmental conditions. CalAPA covered these projects in several issues of California Asphalt Magazine with the latest in the 2022 Quality Issue (Snyder, 2022). Monismith, it should be noted, was inducted into the CalAPA “Hall of Fame” as an “Honorary Member” for his many contributions to the advancement of knowledge of asphalt pavements. BMD IN CALIFORNIA TODAY While California has a history of recognizing the importance of permanent deformation and durability, the industry and Caltrans have searched for a reliable and efficient testing protocol to identify the asphalt mixtures resistance to rutting and cracking (both fatigue and thermal). BMD provides a testing methodology and design protocol that may address this missing link. In 2024 the Caltrans Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee (PMPC) formed the Implementation of Balanced Mix Design Work Product Group (BMDWPG). This group of Caltrans and industry representatives took the charge to oversee the testing protocol evaluation, the correlation to field performance, and the development of specification standards to utilize BMD in California. While the group was formalized in 2024, Caltrans through the University of California Researach Center at UC Davis (UCPRC) had started test method evaluations as part of their evaluation of Long-Life pavement program many years

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Left: A paving crew from CalAPA member George Reed Co. constructs a BMD test section at the University of California Pavement Research Center in Davis, Calif. on Nov. 6, 2024. The orange Heavy Vehicle Simulator equipment is in the background. Photo by Russell W. Snyder.

Right: Randy West of the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University leads a Balanced Mix Design workshop sponsored by CalAPA on Oct. 1, 2019 in Sacramento. Industry and agency personnel attended the training class. Photo by Russell W. Snyder.

before. This evaluation of potential test methodologies included the correlation to performance tests already used in the Long-Life program and pavement research (such as AASHTO T321 and AASHTO T378) and the interaction with the California pavement design methodology (CalME). Also, UCPRC constructed several full-scale test sections at their Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) facility in Davis, Calif. These sections provided very important information on the sensitivity of the test methodologies and provided material for multiple interlaboratory studies used to further refine the sample preparation and testing protocol and understand the testing variability. The BMDWPG recently reviewed the findings of the UCPRC HVS study and the first interlaboratory study. Based on these and other research findings from research and agency partners across the nation, the group has narrowed the field of potential test methods. An important aspect of BMD is the utilization of new testing protocols

that significantly reduce the time to prepare specimens and complete mixture testing. While there is no official decision on the test methods that will make up the Caltrans BMD specification, the evaluation effort focuses on the use of the IDEAL-CT test and HWTT. The effort will continue to consider an alternative permanent deformation test like the IDEAL-RT to achieve the goal of a short test turnaround time. The BMDWPG now faces the task of benchmarking mixes from across the environmentally and geologically diverse state that will impact the limits for the initial project specifications. The group anticipates the construction of pilot projects to start in 2027. In preparation for the pilot projects, the group will need to finalize mix design and Quality Assurance (QA) procedures, finalize protocols and conduct necessary Independent Assurance activities, prepare training opportunities for construction personnel, and draft the new specification. California continues to take bold steps forward to improve the

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

sustainability of its asphalt pavement infrastructure. Caltrans’ evaluation and intent to implement BMD will provide all asphalt pavement owners and stakeholders the ability to maximize the value of innovation and environmental stewardship that our communities require. CA Brandon Milar, P.E., is Director of Technical Services for the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA) and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Caltrans-industry Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee leadership. REFERENCES: Hveem, F. N. (1982, 12 02). Highway Recollections of F.N. Hveem. (W. R. Lovering, Interviewer) California. Retrieved from https://archive.org/ details/casadt_000076 Snyder, R. (2022). “Long Live Asphalt!: National recognition for innovative Caltrans design strategy delivering asphalt pavements that last 40 years or longer” California Asphalt Magazine, Journal of the California Asphalt Pavement Association, 2022 Quality Issue, pp. 8-14.

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California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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FEATURE ARTICLE / SIDEBAR

Bringing Balanced Mix Design to the airfield By Brett Williams

irfield asphalt pavements operate in a uniquely demanding environment. Heavy aircraft loads, high tire pressures, slow or stationary movements, and elevated pavement temperatures create performance demands that are not always fully captured through traditional mix design requirements alone. That makes Balanced Mix Design (BMD) particularly relevant to airports. Building on established volumetric and material requirements, BMD adds laboratory performance testing to provide another way to evaluate how a mixture is expected to respond to key pavement distresses before construction. Through the Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP), a cooperative agreement effort between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Asphalt Pavement Association, two complementary research efforts have been advancing that approach for airfield pavements: one focused on rutting and the other on cracking. EVALUATING THE RUTTING SIDE OF THE BALANCE Rutting is particularly important on airfields because even relatively small amounts of permanent deformation can affect drainage, ride quality and safety, especially on runways and high-speed exit taxiways. Led by Dr. Elie Hajj and the University of Nevada, Reno, the rutting research team evaluated multiple laboratory methods using both laboratory- and plantproduced asphalt mixtures from active airfield projects across the 20

A paving operation brings mixture design decisions into the field. - (Source: AAPTP)

country. The team also included Rutgers University, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, RDM International and Duval Engineering. Four rutting tests emerged as reliable tools within an airfield BMD framework: the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer, Hamburg Wheel-Track Test, high-temperature indirect tensile test and ideal rutting test. Rather than prescribing a single test, the framework provides flexibility to select methods based on available equipment, project risk and implementation goals while helping maintain consistent mix design outcomes. The research also addressed an important question that comes with performance testing: How should the tests be run so results are consistent and meaningful? Researchers developed recommendations for variables including specimen air voids, test

temperature and preparation. For example, the study recommends conducting the rutting tests at 7 % air voids, ±0.5 %. Field density data from multiple airfields supported that target, which also allows specimens to be prepared at practical heights while reducing the potential for aggregate damage from over-compaction. Test temperatures can also be selected based on local climate rather than applying the same temperature to every mixture. Field performance was another critical part of the work. Researchers collected cores from airfield pavement sections with known performance histories. Comparing those cores with laboratory results helped refine the test criteria and confirm that the selected methods reflect mixture behavior under actual airfield conditions.

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

(Source: AAPTP)

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT CRACKING A companion AAPTP study, led by Dr. Imad Al-Qadi and the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, addressed the other side of the balance: cracking. The research team also included the University of New Hampshire, Arizona State University, Heritage Research Group and Applied Research Associates. Researchers evaluated asphalt mixtures, binders, aggregates and pavement cores collected from airports in Chicago, San Francisco, Tampa, Newark and Sacramento. The materials represented different climates, traffic conditions and construction practices, allowing researchers to compare laboratory test results with actual field performance. The study considered cracking in two performance domains. Lowtemperature testing focuses on the mixture’s resistance to crack initiation, while service-temperature testing considers characteristics associated with crack propagation and post-peak behavior. For low-temperature cracking, researchers developed the Simplified Low-Temperature Semi-Circular Bend test. The streamlined procedure reduces testing time from nearly two hours to about five minutes, making it more practical for laboratory use. At service temperatures, the Illinois Flexibility Index Test and newly developed Disc with O-Notch for Uniaxial Testing, or DONUT, protocol provide tools for evaluating cracking resistance. Together, the recommended methods give engineers ways to evaluate cracking potential under different temperature conditions before a mixture is placed. BRINGING THE RESEARCH TOGETHER The significance of the two studies becomes clearer when their findings are considered together. BMD is not about maximizing

resistance to one distress at the expense of another. A mixture that is highly resistant to rutting still needs sufficient cracking resistance and durability. The goal is to provide engineers with performance information that helps them evaluate that balance as mixture components and proportions change. The research also extends beyond selecting individual tests. Both projects emphasize implementation, including standardized procedures, performance criteria and a phased path that allows agencies, laboratories and contractors to build experience with the tests before they are incorporated more broadly into projects. For the rutting work, that path may begin with shadow testing and pilot projects before progressing into mix design verification, quality assurance and acceptance. The research is also informing potential updates to FAA specifications, including P-401 and P-403. The cracking research similarly recommends validating laboratory repeatability before integrating performance testing into airport projects. Together, the two studies provide a foundation for bringing BMD to airfield pavements in a way that is both performance-based and practical, giving FAA, airport owners, engineers and contractors better information about how a mixture is likely to perform before it reaches

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

the runway. For more information, visit AirportAsphalt.com. CA Brett Williams is senior director of engineering and technical services at the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), a CalAPA partner. He works with industry, agencies and researchers to advance asphalt pavement technologies, including NAPA’s cooperative airfield pavement research with the FAA. REFERENCES: Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP). Balanced Mix Design: Rutting Performance Tests. Final Report, August 2025. Download the rutting report https://www.asphaltpavement.org/uploads/ documents/ERT Related/AAPT_Program/ Final_Report_BMD_508.pdf?utm_ source=chatgpt.com

Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP). Balanced Mix Design: Evaluation of Cracking Tests for Airfield Pavements. Final Report, August 2026. Download the cracking report

https://www.asphaltpavement.org/uploads/ documents/ERT Related/AAPT_Program/ Final_Report_BMD_508.pdf?utm_ source=chatgpt.com

Crane, J. (2020) “Latest FAA P-401 specification takes off” California Asphalt, Journal of the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA), 2020 Quality Issue, PP 8-10. https://issuu.com/calcontractor/ docs/cam_quality_2020_-_ issuu?fr=sN2I4NDE4NjM2MTI

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California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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ASSOCIATION NEWS

Sold-out CalAPA golf tournament raises funds for asphalt charity; 1 player comes thisclose to a hole-in-one

Tailgate-style networking event the evening before the tournament.

Bringing the Industry Together! Representatives from across the asphalt industry came together for a day of golf, camaraderie, and friendly competition at the CalAPA Golf Tournament at Pechanga.

alAPA’s annual charity golf tournament, rebranded this year as the “California Asphalt Open,” boasted another strong turnout and a hair-raising hole-in-one near-miss. The annual event took place Sept. 24 at the Journey, a spectacular golf course tucked into a hillside in Temecula and part of the growing Pechanga Resort and Casino complex. A gala “tailgate-style” networking event was held the evening before the big 24

tournament, hosted by Steve Marvin of CalAPA member LaBelle-Marvin. Photos from the events were posed on CalAPA’s various social media feeds, including Facebook, which can be viewed by visiting https:// www.facebook.com/CalAPAnews. Last year’s event created a buzz when Braden Porter with CalAPA member R.J. Noble Co. scored a hole-in-one on a Par 3 shot on 15, a soaring 154-yard tee-shot that golfers dream about. His name is now listed on a perpetual plaque in

Last year, Braden Porter of R.J. Noble Co. scored a hole-in-one, earning his place on the plaque in the Journey golf facility lobby.

the lobby of the Journey golf facility. His only mistake: The $10,000 hole-in-one prize was two holes later, on 17. In recognition of his feat, CalAPA added a second “hole-inone” contest hole this year, and presented Porter with a customized “California Asphalt Open” cap made especially for the event by CalAPA member Lind Safety with an eye-catching logo designed by Construction Marketing Services. [ Continued on page 26 ]

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Mike Souther, Ammann America Inc., (left), Steve Marvin, LaBelle Marvin, Inc., Pascal Mascarenhas, CRM, and Russell Snyder, CalAPA.

TJ Hockenberry (left), Tom Hughes, Champion Paving, Rob Pickrell, Herrmann Equipment Inc., and Tim Maus, T Maus Grading & Paving.

Steve Cota, Acrisure (left), Robert Jarvis, Century Paving, Aaron Terry, Terra Pave, and Chris Barry, Beach Paving.

Marlon Avalos (left), Perry Chapman, Michael Chapman and Chris Chapman, Surfa Slick.

Todd Fields, Butler-Justice (left), Mike McCann, Maverick Environmental Equipment, Dan Copp, and Mike Butler, Butler-Justice.

Jordan Roper, G3 Quality (left), Brandon Buffalo, G3 Quality, David Velez, Lhoist North America.

Rick Baker, Pav-Kote (left), Joseph Recinos, Diversified Asphalt Products, Danny Baker, Pav-Kote, and Myke Legere, Diversified Asphalt Products.

Nick LaPaglia, North Sand & Gravel (left), Patrick LaPaglia, Nixon-Egli Equipment Company, Shon Esparza, SE Pipeline and Oscar Espinoza, Allied Paving.

Reed Nordberg, Nixon-Egli Equipment Company (left), Trevor Sheets, Black Diamond Paving, Gavin Singleton, Nixon-Egli Equipment Company, and Kurtis Scholten.

Justin Bellow (left), Aimee Anundsen, ArrMaz Products Inc., Jeff Weitzel, ArrMaz Products Inc., and Luis Arias, Idaho Asphalt.

Mike Rustic, Caltrans (left), Marco Estrada, Pavement Recycling Systems, Paul Solis and Amir Ghavibazoo, Twining, Inc.

Rolo Garcia (left), Eddie Vargas, Robert Contreras, and Eddie Carrillo, Sully Miller Contracting Co.

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Frank Costa, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (left), Brian Fogey, Shawn Smith, Kelterite, and Dan Olivera, Consultant.

Dan Walker, D & H Equipment, LTD (left), Bobby Steen, Scott Enyart and David Mora, Advantage Sealing.

John Wiggins, (left), Drew Little, Dennis Little and Max Little, C & C Transportation.

Pavement Recycling’s Doug Jones (left) and Jeff Luzar.

Edwin Abarca (left), Jason Kuss, Mike Reyes and Chris Smith, World Oil.

Johnny Rodriguez, Certerra-RMA Group (left), Tim Saenz, Certerra-RMA Group, Scott Brewer, FlatironDragados, and Andy Anderson, FlatironDragados.

Zach Hoffman, Constellation Energy (left), Hambir Chavan, Constellation Energy, Kevin Jeffers, Albina Asphalt, and Cody Branch, Talley Oil Inc.

Tom Lavera, Martin Marietta (left), Ken Ghahremani, WestPac, Eddie Van Zyl, Astec Industries Inc., and Ryan Merrit, Martin Marietta.

zero-cash birdie. The saying may be “close but no cigar,” but Garcia was presented with a custom tournament cap and a cigar anyway. For the record, the tee shot from the $10,000 Hole 17 was 180 yards and a par 3. Also noteworthy at last week’s tournament was a re-imagining of the event check-in procedure, which converted the morning line

from TSA to VIP -- or, in other words, no line at all. Arriving golfers had their hole and cart assignments in advance, or available on a QR Code on their phone. Tee Prizes were already waiting for them in their carts. The tee prizes included customized golf vests produced for the event by Lind Safety. Raffle tickets were sold on the course.

[ Continued from page 24 ]

Once again this year’s event had its own “hole-in-one” drama, as Rollo Garcia with CalAPA member Sully-Miller/Blue Diamond Materials stepped up to the tee box on 17, the $10,000 hole, and planted his tee shot a mere 2 feet from the cup. His companions gathered around him for a photo and dared him to miss the “gimmie” 2-foot put for a 26

[ Continued on page 28 ]

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Braden Porter (left), Jacob Breedlove, Jess Libsack and Ken McKown, R.J. Noble Company.

Payton Thomas (left), Chandler Oveson, Cheyenne Gould, and Lauren Wyatt, Martin Marietta.

Brandon Milar, CalAPA (left), Brett Van Dusen and Phil Reader, George Reed Inc.

Kevin Duong, Lind Safety (left), Garrett Winkelmaier, G4, Nolan Lohman, Ingevity, and Matt Faraone, G4.

Francisco Navarro Sr. (left), Matt Raykowski, Francisco Navarro II, and Joshua Navarette, Navarro Paving.

Jeff Prescott, Premier Paving (left), Drew Quarton, Diversified Asphalt Products, Wayne Seagraves and Daniel Prescott, Premier Paving.

Russell Snyder, CalAPA (left), Tim Reed, Drew McCauley, Vulcan Materials, Jonathan Arthur and Rich Gilkey, San Joaquin Refining Co..

Scott Metcalf, Ergon (left), J.D. Klein, All American Asphalt, Gary Lewis, Crafco, and Jonathan Hungerford, All American Asphalt.

Deven Fuselier (left), Brandon Perry, Matt Mendenhall and Matt Draheim, Nixon-Egli Equipment Company.

[ Continued from page 26 ]

That freed up morning time for coffee, breakfast, networking and perhaps some warm-up putting. Registration desk supervisor Jackie Henry and asphalt ambassadors Jen Harris and Patsy Mascarenhas deserved all the kudus they received for the new and improved procedure.The course was manicured to perfection, and beverages were plentiful under 28

clear and warm skies with a light breeze. Golfers moved through the course quickly and arrived at a raucous awards luncheon ready to cheer on the winners and jeer (good naturedly) the raffle ticket barker. An impromptu auction of limited-edition “California Asphalt Open” caps was held, with the proceeds to benefit CalAPA’s newly minted charity, the California Asphalt Research & Education

(CARE) Foundation. Kudos go out to the generosity of the winning cap bidders: Marco Estrada with Pavement Recycling Systems, Ryan Merritt with Martin Marietta, and Zach Hoffman with Constellation Energy. Lind Safety’s Kevin Duong, who personally supervised the embroidery of the vests and caps, and even volunteered to load up the carts, was on hand to make the presentations.

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Overall Champions: The Pavement Recycling Systems Middle of the Pack Champions: Congratulations to foursome took home top honors at the 2026 CalAPA Jason Teptein (left) and Matt McLuckie, FORTA, John California Asphalt Open! Congratulations to Garrett Rogers, Sully-Miller and Alex Kotrotsios, FORTA. Francis (left), Justin Burke, Jim Warner and James Wu.

Hole-in-one: Close, but no cigar? Not quite! Rolo Garcia, Sully Miller Contracting Co.

Men’s Longest Drive: Justin Bellow.

Men’s Closest to the Pin: Oscar Espinosa, Allied Paving.

Ladies’ Longest Drive: Cheyenne Gould, Martin Marietta.

The sold-out event was sponsored by Acrisure, C&C Transportation, Diversified Asphalt Products, D&H Equipment, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Navarro Paving, R.J. Noble Co., Surfa-Slick and World Oil. The Navarro Paving group, new to the CalAPA event, sponsored a hole. The next opportunity for CalAPA members to mingle will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at the

Men’s Closest to the Pin: Johnny Rodriguez, Certerra-RMA Group.

association’s annual Awards Dinner at the prestigious Jonathan Club in downtown Los Angeles. Look for announcements in the CalAPA newsletter and on the association’s web page calendar of events. The keynote speaker for the dinner will be Kiana Valentine, Executive Director of CalAPA-supported Transportation California, who will provide insight on transportation funding and the future of the

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

gas tax to pay for road repairs. The evening will also feature an induction into CalAPA’s “Hall of Fame” Dr. John Harvey of the University of California Pavement Research Center as an “Honorary Member.” For information on all upcoming events, visit the CalAPA on-line calendar page on the association’s website. CA 29

ASSOCIATION NEWS

ASPHALT AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT:

Jen Harris

en Harris has the heart of service, and it was on display in the form of a friendly greeting and helpful assistance to attendees at this year’s CalAPA California Asphalt Open golf tournament. Over the past two years, Harris has generously volunteered her time and talents to support numerous association events, including golf tournaments, “Day at the Races” events at Del Mar, the annual dinner at the Jonathan Club, and the Annual Spring Conference and Trade Show Expo. Her dedication and willingness to lend a helping hand have made her an invaluable part of these events. Harris is founder and director of Gardena-based “Connected to Lead,” a non-profit that focuses on leadership development and mental health, particularly targeting youth in underserved communities in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The synergy between her “day job” and an asphalt industry golf tournament that supports a workforcecentric charity was a happy happenstance.

By Russell W. Snyder

“I think it’s awesome,” she said during a break between selling raffle tickets, answering questions and other activities that helped make the event run smoothly. “The players are great. The team is awesome. Everybody has a really good time, and it’s an opportunity for me to give back to the great work you all are doing at CalAPA. It’s a blast for me.” To learn more about the Connected to Lead organization, visit their website at: www.connect edtolead.org . The group is actively seeking mentors, program speakers, volunteers to organize service projects and others to support helping young people find success in life. “We want to provide opportunities and remove barriers,” Harris says. “Because sometimes leadership development programs, or mental health services, have high costs and people can’t afford them.” Occasionally it is removing the stigma or intimidation of getting help, such as the organization’s “Coping, Cocoa and Canvas,” which consists of hot cocoa, instructorled painting instruction interwoven with healthy coping skills.

“It s a great way to talk about mental health without some of the stigma that is around it,” she said. “Other times, it is more case management to help ensure people know what services are available and how to access them.” The construction industry, well known for physical safety programs, has in recent years placed a special emphasis on the mental health of workers. To learn more, and to access resources now, visit the NAPA website here: https:// www.asphaltpavement.org/all-aboutasphalt/asphalt-facts/safety/mentalhealth-awareness/ CA Russell W. Snyder, CAE, is executive director of the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA).

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California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

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MEMBER NEWS

Asphalt industry mourns the passing of beloved leader Bert Wootan

Family photo courtesy of the Wootan family.

Longtime asphalt industry leader Bert Wootan, known for his garrulous nature and business acumen, passed away Sept. 8 at his home in Arizona surrounded by his family. He was 77. A celebration of life was held Sept. 18 in Mesa, Ariz., attended by his extended family and other well-wishers, a testament to the lasting impression he left to those around him. Wootan was active in the industry and association events for decades, including working for three different refineries, before his retirement in 2014. His farewell retirement note sent out to his colleagues in December of that year was epic and is still fondly recalled to this day. In the note, he said, “As many of you may have heard, after 35+ years working with three different oil refineries I have finally hung up my ‘jersey’. I doubt that any one of the three will be retiring my number any time soon but it was a pleasure and a joy working for all of them; San Joaquin Refining, Foreland Refining and Lunday-Thagard Refining (World Oil). “To all my customers and friends in the industry: Thank you for working with me and especially for putting up with me all these years. I’ve enjoyed serving you and I hope each one of you feels the same. I tried to treat everyone fairly and I felt I was honest in my dealings with each one of you. I am leaving behind many good friends and I wish all of you the very best. “To my peers over the years: Thank you for standing together with me to resolve any problems or working with me just to get the job done; many times late into the night. Working beside each one of you was a pleasure and a joy. I will 32

Bert Wootan with his family in 2012 (left to right): BJ Wootan; Leah Wootan Frandsen; Kristen Wootan Boehme; Bert Wootan; Marla Wootan; Melayne Wootan Johnson and Tanner Wootan.

miss talking with all of you and seeing you from time to time. I have developed many good friends that I have worked with over the years.” When CalAPA received word of Wootan’s passing, it listed his official name, Herbert Lee Wootan, and also several honorifics he picked up over the years: “Papa,” Pops,” Daddy,” “Grandpa,” “Ball Papa,” “Coach” as well as “Bert.” Wootan was born on Jan. 25, 1949 in Florence, Ariz. His parents, Duane and Clara Goodman Wootan, would later recall they knew he was destined for greatness when the desert welcomed his arrival with a rare and historic snowfall. He spent his early childhood on a farm in Greene Reservoir, south of Eloy, alongside his sisters, Trudy and Lynette. His early years were timeless—filled with baseball, bicycle rides, running with his dog

Pal, swimming in the farm pond, and adventures with a large network of cousins and friends. When Wootan was just five years old, his father took him into town for a haircut, only to bring him home fully enrolled in the first grade. Despite being the youngest in his class, he excelled academically and formed friendships that would last a lifetime. By junior high, he had convinced his father that he needed a motorcycle to deliver The Arizona Republic newspaper every morning before school. Even at a young age, he possessed an incredible work ethic and a natural sense for business. Throughout his school years, Wootan was naturally drawn to people and was often the life of every gathering. At Eloy High School, he immersed himself in student council, Future Farmers of

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

America, school plays, sports, and countless clubs. He was eventually elected Student Body President and received the prestigious Boy of the Year award. Just days before his graduation in May of 1966, his father passed away suddenly. At such a young age, Wootan demonstrated remarkable maturity and grace, carrying out his responsibilities at the graduation ceremony while honoring the memory of the father he admired so deeply. At 17, Bert attended the University of Arizona on an agriculture scholarship, with a minor in business. At 19, he put his studies on hold to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Uruguay/Paraguay Mission. During his mission, he strengthened his natural leadership abilities and became fluent in Spanish. On Dec. 20, 1971, he married the love of his life, Marla Vanderpool, in Casa Grande, Ariz. It was the beginning of a beautiful journey that would span more than five decades —five children, numerous moves, and a lifetime of shared adventures. Shortly after his marriage, Wootan was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War era. Following his military service, he completed his education and graduated from Brigham Young University in 1974 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. A natural-born businessman, Wootan launched his own business in 1976, bringing his young family back to Arizona. Those early years were a whirlwind as he built his career and the family made homes across Arizona, Washington, Utah, and California in less than a decade. Through every move and every new chapter, Wootan and his wife, Marla, created a home filled with love and laughter. In February of 1982, he helped build the family home in Mesa, Arizona, where the family would spend the next 24 years. That

Bert Wootan, right, attends the 2012 CalAPA “Day at the Races” event at Del Mar Race Track with his wife, Marla, center, and daughter Melayne.

house became the center of their universe—the backdrop for birthdays, graduations, weddings, grandchildren, endless laughter, and countless family milestones. Together, Wootan and his wife raised their five children: Leah, Kristen, BJ, Melayne, and Tanner. Professionally, Wootan was a respected leader who eventually built a successful career with World Oil Corp., and was active in the California Asphalt Pavement Association. But no executive title could ever compare to the roles he cherished most: Husband, Father, and Papa. If Wootan wasn’t coaching, he was cheering from the sidelines, sharing his unmistakable “Dad Handy” wisdom, and always— without exception—loving his family unconditionally. After their children grew and established families of their own, Wootan and his wife embraced a new chapter in Huntington Beach, Calif., —their beloved “home away from home.” He continued his career with World Oil until retiring in May 2014. In 2016, he and Marla made their final move back home to Arizona, where they spent their golden years surrounded by their children and grandchildren.

California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

On Sept. 8, 2026, Wootan passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by Marla and all five of his children. His final hours were a beautiful reflection of the life he had lived— filled with his favorite music, shared jokes, singing, laughter, and the retelling of cherished family stories. His legacy cannot be measured simply by the career he built or the miles he traveled. It lives in the family he created, the people whose lives he touched, and the steadfast way he showed up for those he loved. Perhaps one of the greatest reflections of the man he was could be found in the people around him: they didn’t just love him—they genuinely liked him, enjoyed him, and wanted to be near him. Wootan is survived by his beloved wife, Marla; his children, Leah Frandsen, Kristen (Keli) Boehme, BJ, Melayne (Andrew) Johnson, and Tanner (Shasta); 13 grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren. Through each of them, the love, humor, strength, and values he shared will continue for generations to come. CA Additional photos of Bert Wootan are posted on the CalAPA Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ CalAPAnews 33

YOUR PARTNER ON THE ROAD AHEAD

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www.tayloresinc.com California Asphalt Magazine • 2026 Quality Issue

Beyond onboarding True partnership for unmatched eﬃciency Going beyond basic machine control, true business optimization demands a perfect combination of the right technology for the job and a partner at your side who understands your unique project needs. With SITECH®, you’re not just buying equipment; you’re gaining a partner invested in maximizing your site’s success! Your partner for a smarter site: contact us today!

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