Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (Ergon A&E) is committed to supporting customers with high-quality products to help extend the life of roadways. Through strong partnerships and proven solutions, we work alongside agencies to implement cost-effective treatments to maximize pavement performance and longevity.
Ergon A&E has served as the proud supplier of numerous award-winning Best Chip Seal Projects for the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). These awards are not only a testament to our commitment to providing quality solutions to ensure customer success, but they also highlight how strategic pavement preservation helps agencies maximize their road budgets to ensure a healthy roadway network. The following are details of the NMDOT’s award-winning strategy to keep their good roads good with chip seal applications.
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NMDOT takes a proactive approach to preserve their pavements, ensuring roads remain in top condition while preventing costly repairs down the line.
As part of their standard of Mobility for Everyone, NMDOT has worked to keep a watchful eye on gravel and paved roads for drivers. NMDOT’s maintenance program primarily focuses on secondary and rural roads with lower traffic volumes, where cost-effective solutions make a significant impact. The agency uses HFE-100P, a conventional asphalt emulsion, for chip seal treatments on these roadways. The chip seal process begins with spraying an asphalt emulsion on a pavement surface, followed by a layer of aggregate, effectively sealing and protecting the pavement from raveling and deterioration caused by weather and traffic. This method is compatible with existing state equipment and helps extend road life by five to seven years. By choosing chip seals, NMDOT is saving an estimated $18,000 per lane mile compared to traditional milling and resurfacing. The agency’s ability to maintain road quality while minimizing costs is a key factor in preserving the state’s roadways for years to come.
Best Chip Seal Project Award
To encourage effective pavement preservation, the NMDOT Maintenance Division awards districts with the Best Chip Seal Project designation each year, known as the Chip Seal Quality Awards.
In 2024, NMDOT District 2 won the Chip Seal Quality Award — placing top in their division among other road and transportation districts. Additional award-winning years and districts include:
2020 – 2021: District 4
2022: District 1
2023: District 2
“Winners receive jackets and, more importantly, the bragging rights of being named the best chip seal crew for that year,” said Ralph Meeks, retired Ergon A&E Area Sales Manager for New Mexico. “It’s a big deal for the state and fosters a sense of pride among the winning crews.”
But this recognition doesn’t happen by chance for the winning districts — it is the result of a careful evaluation process to decide which district truly earns the title.
Evaluation
Every year, the State Materials Director randomly selects routes and roads from each district for evaluation based on criteria such as quality of application, coverage and durability. A panel of 5 to 10 judges, including representatives from multiple districts and the Santa Fe office, each visit selected sites physically to assess and evaluate the projects. An important note — districts cannot evaluate their own roads to ensure fairness during the process. Also, evaluators are not permitted to discuss scorecard tallies in any capacity.
Evaluation score points are calculated by seven categories: Chip Retention, Appropriate Chip Embedment, Workmanship Centerline Joints, Workmanship Start and Stop Joints, Workmanship General, Appearance and Neatness along with Conservation of Resources.
Application in Action
Since 2019, NMDOT has trusted Ergon A&E to supply asphalt emulsions for their chip seal treatments. For these projects, HFE-100P was applied at a shot rate of 0.35 – 0.45 gallons per square yard, depending on surface conditions and aggregate gradation. Immediately following the emulsion application, an aggregate was applied, followed by multiple passes with pneumatic rollers to promote strong bonding and durability.
Award-winning recognition of these projects across NMDOT districts underscores the effectiveness of Ergon’s solutions and our commitment to helping agencies succeed.
Want to enhance your pavement program? Contact us today to learn how we can help with trusted, industry-proven solutions for your roadway preservation and maintenance needs.
