SECTION 821 — SAWING AND SEALING JOINTS IN ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENTS 800-121 — SAWING AND SEALING JOINTS IN ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENTS
821.01 Description.
This work includes making two saw cuts, one within the other, in the finished asphalt concrete pavement directly over the transverse joints and edge of deck, and filling the cuts with a hot poured asphalt rubber compound at the required locations.
821.02 Materials.
Use poured joint seal material that is an asphalt rubber compound of the hot poured type conforming to AASHTO D6690.
821.03 Construction Methods.
Make the cuts centered over the transverse joints at the piers and the edge of deck at the abutments. After the cuts have been satisfactorily completed, seal the cuts with the hot asphalt rubber joint sealer. Sawing Joints. Ensure that the asphalt concrete has hardened sufficiently to allow clean cuts to be made and to withstand the eroding effects of the saw or other cutting device. Ensure that the initial saw cut is ⅜-in. wide by ½-in. deep. Make the second saw cut, ⅛-in. wide and 1 in. deep, within the initial saw cut and, as practical, centered on the initial saw cut. Make the saw cuts with an abrasive blade and sawn dry. Extend the completed cuts in a straight line across the pavement from curb to curb. Reference each joint to be sawed. Ensure that the saw cuts are constructed directly over the deck joints at the piers and the edge of deck at the abutments. Sealing Joints. Seal the sawed joints immediately after the second saw cut has been made. Do not allow traffic until the seal is fully cured according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Clean and dry each joint before placement of the sealing compound. Perform the cleaning by blowing out all dirt, dust, or deleterious matter that may have accumulated in the sawed joints. Use a combined melter and pressure application. Equip the melter with a thermostat to maintain the sealing compound within the range of temperatures specified by the manufacturer and with a suitably mounted thermometer to indicate the temperature of the sealing compound in the melter. Apply the joint seal to ensure that all cracks are filled to refusal to eliminate all voids or entrapped air and not leave unnecessary surplus crack sealer on the pavement surface. Ensure that the hot seal completely fills the joint so that, after cooling, the level of the sealer will not be greater than ⅛-in. below the pavement surface. Ensure that any depression in the seal greater than 3/16 in.
Part 800 — Bridge Structures August 2025
800-122 SECTION 821 — SAWING AND SEALING JOINTS IN ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENTS is elevated to the specified limit by the further addition of hot seal. Ensure that, when sealing the joints, the final appearance presents a neat, fine line. Do not overfill the joints, and avoid spillage of the sealer. Remove all excess or spilled sealer from the pavement and discard. The melting temperature of the sealer will be furnished by the manufacturer. Ensure that the actual tempera- ture of the material in the melter does not exceed the melting temperature by more than 15°F.
821.04 Method of Measurement.
Sawing and Sealing Joints in Asphalt Concrete Pavement will be measured by the number of linear feet sawed and sealed. The measurement of linear feet is inclusive of both saw cuts, which will not be measured separately.
821.05 Basis of Payment.
The Department will pay for the completed and accepted quantities as follows. Pay Item Pay Unit Sawing and Sealing Joints in Asphalt Concrete Pavement LF The price constitutes full compensation for all labor, tools, materials, equipment, and incidentals required to finish the work, complete and accepted.
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