Selecting an early life preservation treatment for high-traffic roadways that minimizes public impact is no easy task, especially when daily commutes and complex layouts are in play. That’s where Asphalt Materials, Inc. (AMI) stepped in with its AMIGUARD™ rapid penetrating emulsion rejuvenator treatment. See how a forward-thinking, trusted partnership and an original, innovative application delivered a quick, effective solution tailored to this county’s unique needs.
AMIGUARD™ Early Life Pavement Preservation
AMIGUARD™ rapid penetrating emulsion products are early-stage preservation treatments designed to extend pavement life. Unlike traditional fog seals, AMIGUARD Rapid Penetrating Emulsion (RPE) and Rapid Penetrating Emulsion Rejuvenator (RPE-R) are engineered to penetrate the pavement surface quickly and deeply, filling surface voids and sealing out moisture and, in the case of RPE-R, offering rejuvenating components that restore essential binder properties. This not only minimizes disruptions to the driving public through faster drying times and quicker return to traffic but also enhances long-term performance by offsetting the aging that occurs near the surface of an asphalt pavement during production and oxidation in service.
In addition, the void structure near the surface is effectively sealed, significantly reducing the permeability of the pavement. Preventing water intrusion in this way is essential to inhibit deterioration, ultimately preserving pavement integrity.
Addressing Wood County Infrastructure
The Wood County Highway Department, Wisconsin was facing an all-too-familiar challenge: how to stretch their paving budget by slowing aging of their roads, in particular on a recently paved, high-traffic roadway.
Traditional sealant treatments can have challenges the county aimed to avoid, such as tracking, prolonged road closures and dust or loose chips. This project also had the goal of preserving existing paint lines while not using sand or aggregate chips.
AMIGUARD RPE-R, a bio-based surface rejuvenation treatment designed to offset early life aging of asphalt pavement while sealing out water, was selected for its quick drying time that allows for minor intersection traffic to pass over with minimal impact on the treatment and no impact on vehicles. By leaning into pavement preservation, a philosophy founded on “keeping good roads good”, Wood County could maintain the pavement’s surface condition and slow the structural decline of the overall road.
Building Long-Term Success
Wood County Highway Department has a long-standing history with Asphalt Materials, Inc. (AMI) through H.G. Meigs, an AMI company serving the Wisconsin marketplace. This collaboration has proven successful in evaluating innovative products and processes for the county’s road network. One notable initiative is the county’s participation in the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) Rumble Strip Durability project, in which one Wood County project was utilized for field research.
The county also has prior experience with various pavement preservation treatments including Void Reducing Asphalt Membrane (VRAM), high-performance Gilsonite Seal, rapid penetrating emulsions and more.
In 2023, AMI completed a pilot project using an early version of AMIGUARD RPE-R on County Trunk Highway (CTH) “X”. While successful, the project revealed opportunities for improvement of constructability. These opportunities would inevitably come to fruition in 2024 when the county requested another surface rejuvenation project on CTH “W”. The project was later pushed to 2025 due to timing constraints.
Project Details
- Location: CTH W, east side of Wisconsin Rapids
- RPE-R Supplier: AMI Portage Plant
- Applicator: Fahrner Asphalt Sealers
- Roadway Preparation and Traffic Control: Wood County
- Date Applied: June 23, 2025
Existing surface condition prior to application
View heading into roundabout showing transverse crack
A pre-application site evaluation found the pavement, laid in 2023, to be in good condition, showing typical film wear and mastic raveling expected after two winter cycles in this region. Minor transverse cracks were observed, likely thermal or reflective cracking, but no other structural distress was identified. These areas will be crack-filled following the RPE-R application.
Application Details
The project took place on approximately 2.6 miles of this two-lane highway with a marked speed of 35-45 mph. CTH W features a roundabout, over a dozen intersections and a mix of residential and commercial access. Traffic is heavy but variable throughout the project; up to 7,000 vehicles per day are reported on the west end of the project, while east of the roundabout experiences about 3,500 vehicles per day! Originally produced and paved by Wood County, the mix is 2” dense graded, WisDOT 4MT 58-28S over a Cold In Place Recycling (CIR) base layer.
The material sprays a light khaki color, but dries to a semi-transparent finish, allowing existing paint markings to show through with a slight darkening effect.
The application of RPE-R took place approximately between 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and was split into four sections with one lane closed at a time, using a pilot car to manage traffic. The treatment was applied at 160–175°F, with rates adjusted based on observed penetration of test strips for each section. Dry times were evaluated using a water-spray test to confirm that the material was set. The road was opened to traffic in approximately 1 hour, improving to approximately 40 minutes as temperatures increased throughout the day.
Engineering for Success
AMI partnered with Heritage Research Group in developing and improving the RPE-R product, continuing a legacy of delivering products to the asphalt paving industry that solves problems and adds value. The team recognized that earlier versions of the RPE-R product could be improved by adjusting the formulation to resist residue tracking potential and maintain driver safety. In addition, early resistance to water was considered a critical design aspect to address the ever-present pop-up rain showers experienced in the Upper Midwest. This project is a shining example of how these improvements to the product formulation led to success.
Surface condition after AMIGUARD RPE-R application
The project successfully demonstrated:
- Preservation of existing lane striping
- Minimal disruption to traffic and residents
- Completion without sand or chips
- Resilience to post-application weather (The application noted no runoff or emulsification after a 90-minute post-application rainstorm.)
Cores will be taken from the project at approximately one-month post-completion to determine efficacy of the rejuvenating treatment. This section will also be used to evaluate paint line reflectivity.
Strengthening Road Networks with AMIGUARD
The objective of this project was to extend the maintenance timeline of CTH “W” while demonstrating AMIGUARD RPE-R as a go-to solution for similar high-traffic, preservation-focused projects across the region.
By leveraging the capabilities of AMIGUARD RPE and RPE-R, Wood County is not only extending the life of its pavements but also enhancing road safety and sustainability. These innovative treatments work beneath the surface to reduce permeability, protect against moisture damage and preserve critical pavement structures. Agencies that integrate pavement preservation strategies into their network planning can ensure longer-lasting, safer roads for the traveling public.
Want to know if AMIGUARD rapid penetrating emulsions might be the right fit for your next pavement project? Reach out to our team at marketing@asphalt-materials.com to schedule a road evaluation or discuss treatment options.
