More than two-thirds of the North American road network is under the jurisdiction of municipalities and local governments. Ninety percent of this network requires immediate repairs. In Canada alone, it is estimated that $8.5 billion is needed just to bring the roads to an acceptable level of service while in the US , that figure is closer to $100 billion. Preventive maintenance is the first and most important way to delay road deterioration, extend its service life, and save shrinking public funds. While sealing of cracks is one of the most common and easy means of preventive maintenance, it is not working all that well. Sealant failure is common within the first three years of application. Better sealant durability is urgently needed. To address the sealant durability problem, the National Research Council of Canada and various States have teamed-up to develop, in collaboration with North American partners, performance guidelines for the selection of crack sealants. This multi-year project includes the development of. A procedure to measure the short-term aging affects of bituminous sealant - one that considers actual installation practices.

A procedure to measures the long-term aging affects of sealants - one that considers actual service life conditions.

A method to assess the performance of sealants at low temperature.

A sealant adhesion test.