City Partners with Memorial University to Improve Asphalt

The City of St. John’s is participating in a collaborative project to improve asphalt used in pavement.

The project is being led by Memorial University’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, in partnership with City staff from the Department of Engineering, and Mitacs, a national, not-for-profit organization working with universities, companies and governments to build partnerships that support industrial and social innovation.

Researchers Dr. Kamal Hossain, an adjunct professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, and Dr. Carlos Bazan, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, are investigating ways to improve the asphalt mixture used in pavement to help provide a smoother ride.

“Having an opportunity to partner with MUN’s Department of Engineering will be beneficial in determining an asphalt mix that works best for our climate. MUN’s ability to research and test admixtures in the lab prior to trial testing in the field will save money and time,” said Mark White, Manager for Construction Engineering with the City of St. John’s.

This important collaboration with Memorial University is an example of building partnerships to the benefit of our community. Improvements in road infrastructure is aligned with the City’s Strategic Plan ‘Our City, Our Future’ which includes a commitment to building a balanced transportation network to get people and goods where they want to go safely.

Details of this innovative partnership are featured in a Memorial University Gazette article written by Jackey Locke 'Paving the Way'.