Longitudinal Joints
Longitudinal joints are among the most vulnerable parts of a pavement. Differences in density on either side of the joint can lead to cracking, raveling, and water infiltration. Here you will find valuable information, techniques, and best practices to enhance joint performance and ensure safer, more sustainable transportation infrastructure.
Reference Materials
Longitudinal Joint Resources
Links to external pages with valuable information about longitudinal joints on asphalt pavements.
- Longitudinal Best Practices One Pager
- CAPRI Brief: Asphalt Longitudinal Joint Current and Best Practices — Construction Methods, Materials & Acceptance
- Longitudinal Joint Appendix — Summary of recommendations from joint FHWA/Asphalt Institute project
- FHWA Tech Brief: Improving Longitudinal Joint Performance
- Longitudinal Joint Information — Asphalt Institute
- The Best Way to Roll a Joint And Everything Else You Should Know About Constructing Longitudinal Joints
- Pavinar: Longitudinal Joints in Asphalt Pavements (Video)
- Constructing a Quality Bituminous Longitudinal Paving Joint (Video)
Key Techniques
Methods & Solutions
Common construction methods and material solutions for improving longitudinal joint performance.
Construction Approaches
- Echelon Paving — preferred method when feasible
- Maryland Joint Compaction Method with joint adhesive
- Cut-back method — FAA and military airfield standard
Material Solutions
Meeting Materials
Meeting Presentations
Click any presentation to view or download.
Ohio's Longitudinal Joint Specifications — Eric Biehl, P.E., ODOT Office of Materials Management, Fall 2023 CAPRI Meeting
Ohio's Longitudinal Joint Specifications — Contractor Perspective — Bart A. Moody, P.E., Kokosing Construction Co.
ODOT successfully implemented a longitudinal joint density specification by involving industry partners in its development, allowing voluntary contractor trials and ultimately producing a performance-based specification that reduced risk and prevented unnecessary cost increases.
Longitudinal Joint Best Practices — Mark Buncher, Ph.D., P.E., Asphalt Institute, CAPRI Fall 2023 Meeting
Longitudinal Joints — Agency Experiences: Pennsylvania — Timothy L. Ramirez, P.E., PennDOT, Fall 2023
PennDOT has implemented a PWL-based incentive/disincentive longitudinal joint density specification since 2010, achieving statewide average joint densities of 92.8–93.5%. The agency began evaluating Void Reducing Asphalt Membranes (VRAM) in 2018.
Improving Performance of Longitudinal Joints in Airfield Asphalt Pavements — Randy West, Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program, 2022–2024
Evaluates methods for improving longitudinal joint performance on airfield pavements, including a literature review and field evaluation of VRAM and other products on FAA and military airfield projects.
Minnesota HMA Longitudinal Joint Construction — Jerry Geib, CAPRI, March 2023
MnDOT's approach to longitudinal joints, prioritizing echelon paving where possible and using VRAM or the Maryland joint compaction method with adhesive when echelon paving is not an option.
Material Solutions for Longitudinal Joints — Katie DeCarlo, CAPRI Spring Meeting, March 2023
Covers VRAM (bottom-up approach filling voids with polymer-modified asphalt) and Rapid Penetrating Emulsion (top-down approach reducing air and water intrusion while maintaining pavement texture) to address premature joint failure.