This season, Monroe County, MI added to its long-standing commitment to building stronger pavements through the application of AMIGUARD™ Rapid Penetrating Emulsion Rejuvenator (RPE-R), a spray-on asphalt rejuvenator from Asphalt Materials, Inc. (AMI). The work included applications on several county roadways as well as the newly constructed Monroe Loop Path, a walking and recreational trail stretching approximately 6.3 miles, demonstrating how application methods can be adapted for use on a variety of asphalt assets.
Extending Preservation Beyond Conventional Roadways
For years, Monroe County has been recognized as a leader in its willingness to evaluate innovative approaches that help maximize infrastructure investments while maintaining roadway quality.
Monroe County Road Commission Managing Director, Dave Leach, has been with the county for over 30 years. He’s a firm believer in preservation and kept it at the forefront when the county developed a plan to improve its road systems about a decade ago. “It’s important to protect our investments,” he says. “We put a lot of money into asphalt, so using preventative maintenance to extend its life is always a priority.”
The county’s maintenance program typically includes early-life preservation treatments such as overband crack filling, chip seals and fog seals. As part of its ongoing effort to evaluate preservation technologies and build a flexible toolbox of treatment options, Monroe County worked with AMI to incorporate AMIGUARD RPE-R, a spray-on asphalt rejuvenator engineered to quickly penetrate below the surface of asphalt pavement and restore properties of aged binder while protecting from oxidation and water intrusion. Together, they explored RPE-R applications for not only conventional roadways, but also recreational infrastructure.
The Monroe Loop Path, a recreational paved trail, provided an opportunity to evaluate how preservation technologies commonly used on roads can also support the long-term performance of asphalt trails, walking paths and other park assets. And as agencies continue to invest in park systems, the need to protect those assets from aging and environmental wear increases.
AMI Sales Representative, Bruce Wehr, has a long-standing relationship with the county: “One of the things that stands out about Monroe County is their willingness to explore solutions that make sense for their network. Whether it’s a roadway or a recreational trail, they’re focused on protecting their investment and getting the most value.”
A New Application Method for Narrower Pavements
While RPE-R has been successfully used on asphalt roads across the Midwest, the Monroe Loop Path project introduced a new application approach designed specifically for narrower asphalt surfaces.
To complete the work, Pavement Maintenance Systems, a division of Evergreen Roadworks, invested in a modified Etnyre PavementSaver III applicator, working with AMI to enable the capability of delivering AMIGUARD RPE and RPE-R treatments where conventional full-width equipment may not be practical.
The Monroe Loop Path became the first project completed using the specialized unit, making these spray-on treatments more adaptable to a wider range of asphalt pavement assets and accessible to agencies responsible for maintaining more than conventional road networks.
Stewart Schwikert, Regional Manager of Pavement Maintenance Systems, says: “Through our experience applying RPE-R with Asphalt Materials, we found an opportunity to support a broader range of agency needs. We invested in a new way to apply this treatment to narrower paths. Really, it’s all about expanding what’s possible for our customers when it comes to preserving pavement.”
Supporting Monroe County’s Broader Road Maintenance Program
The Monroe Loop Path was one component of a larger preservation effort that included several roadways throughout the county. Applications took place on St. Anthony Road, Secor Road and Samaria Road, including a segment designated Scott Assenmacher Memorial Highway, named in honor of late AMI employee and former Monroe County Highway Engineer.
The county has also committed to applying RPE-R on additional roadways in 2027.
First lane of RPE-R application on St. Anthony Road (Scott Assenmacher Memorial Highway)
RPE-R dries quickly as it permeates into the pavement, drying to a semi-transparent finish.
These projects build on Monroe County’s established infrastructure management approach and commitment to maximizing pavement life through preservation and intentional construction methods.
Assistant County Highway Engineer, Mike Smith, speaks to that plan: “Once we spend money on a road, we want to keep it in that good condition. We found that if you address the worst [roads] first, you’ll never catch up.”
And it shows – the county has seen significant PASER rating improvement in the past 10 years, from an average of 2.5 to a now average of 8.5.
Dave attributes this commitment to understanding first-hand how preventative maintenance can work, through seminars and in the field: “You can really see [the value], so when there’s an opportunity to extend life, we’re not afraid to try new things.”
Rather than relying solely on reactive maintenance, Monroe County continues to implement strategies that address pavement needs earlier in the lifecycle to protect existing investments, improve long-term pavement conditions and optimize budgets.
Collaboration Drives Smart Road Asset Management
The partnership between AMI and Monroe County has evolved over many years as the county has continued to evaluate emerging technologies and best practices. The Monroe Loop Path project is a great example of how strong collaboration and innovative thinking can advance the conversation around pavement preservation and asset management for the future.
Agencies are increasingly focused on finding cost-effective ways to preserve assets over the long term, and explorations like this help them find the best solutions for their network.
Learn more about the unique properties of AMIGUARD RPE-R that rejuvenate asphalt pavements.
