Glossary of Terms for DOJ/DOT Joint Technical Assistance on the ADA Title II Requirements to Provide Curb Ramps When Streets Roads or Highways are Altered Through Resurfacing

Glossary of Terms for DOJ/FHWA Joint Technical Assistance on the ADA Title
II Requirements to Provide Curb Ramps When Streets Roads or Highways are
Altered Through Resurfacing
This glossary is intended to help readers understand certain road treatments
referenced on page 2 of the DOJ/FHWA Joint Technical Assistance on the ADA Title
II Requirements to Provide Curb Ramps When Streets Roads or Highways are
Altered Through Resurfacing. The definitions explain the meaning of these terms
from an engineering perspective and are provided in the order in which they appear
in the Technical Assistance document.
Treatments that are considered alterations of the road surface
Reconstruction – Reconstruction refers to removing all or a significant portion of
the pavement material and replacing it with new or recycled materials. This may
include full‐depth reclamation, where the pavement surface is demolished in place
and new pavement surface is applied. In addition, reconstruction may also include
grinding up a portion of the pavement surface, recycling it and placing it back, and
then adding a wearing surface, such as in cold in‐place asphalt recycling.
Reconstruction often includes widening or geometrical changes to the roadway
profile.
Rehabilitation ‐ Rehabilitation refers to significant repairs made to a road or
highway surface, including activities such as full slab replacement, filling voids
under slabs (slabjacking), widening, and adding additional structural capacity.
Open graded surface course – Open‐graded surface course, also known as “open‐
graded friction course,” involves a pavement surface course that consists of a high‐
void, asphalt concrete mix that permits rapid drainage of rainwater through the
course and off the shoulder of the road. The mixture consists of either Polymer‐
modified or rubber‐modified asphalt binder, a large percentage of one‐sized coarse
aggregate, and a small amount of fibers. This treatment prevents tires from
hydroplaning and provides a skid‐resistant pavement surface with significant noise
reduction.
Microsurfacing – Microsurfacing involves spreading a properly proportioned
mixture of polymer modified asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregate, mineral filler,
water, and other additives, on a paved surface. Microsurfacing differs from slurry
seal in that it can be used on high volume roadways to correct wheel path rutting
and provide a skid resistant pavement surface.
Thin lift overlays – Thin lift overlays are thin applications of mixtures of hot mix
asphalt. Thin lift overlays may also require some milling along curbs, manholes,
existing curb cuts, or other road structures to assure proper drainage and cross
slopes.

Cape seal – A cape seal is a thin surface treatment constructed by applying a slurry
seal or microsurfacing to a newly constructed chip seal. It is designed to be an
integrated system where the primary purpose of the slurry is to fill voids in the chip
seal.
In place asphalt recycling ‐ In‐place asphalt recycling is a process of heating and
removing around 1‐2 inches of existing asphalt and remixing the asphalt with the
addition of a binder additive and possible aggregate to restore the wearing surface
for placement and compaction. All of this is performed in a train of equipment.
Treatments that are considered maintenance of the road surface
Crack filling and sealing – Crack filling and sealing involves placing elastomeric
material directly into cracks in pavement.
Surface sealing ‐ Surface sealing involves applying liquid sealant to pavement
surface in order to stop water penetration and/or reduce oxidation of asphalt
products. Sand is sometimes spread over liquid to absorb excess material.
Chip seals – Chip Seals involve placing graded stone (chips) on liquid emulsified
asphalt sprayed on pavement surface. The surface is rolled to enable seating of
chips.
Slurry seal – Slurry seals involve spraying a mixture of slow setting emulsified
asphalt, well graded fine aggregate, mineral filler, and water on the pavement
surface. It is used to fill cracks and seal areas of old pavements, to restore a uniform
surface texture, to seal the surface to prevent moisture and air intrusion into the
pavement, and to improve skid resistance.
Fog seals – Fog seals are a type of surface sealing.
Scrub sealing – Scrub sealing is type of surface sealing
Joint crack seals – Joint crack seals are usually associated with concrete pavement.
This work consists of routing and cleaning existing cracks and joints and resealing
to prevent water and non‐compressibles from entering into the pavement joints and
subgrade materials.
Joint repairs – Joint repairs are usually associated with concrete pavement. This
work consists of selectively repairing portions of the pavement where the slabs are
generally in good condition, but corners or joints are broken. The depth of the patch
could be full depth or partial depth.

Dowel retrofit – Dowel retrofits are usually associated with concrete pavement.
This work involves the installation of dowel bars connecting slabs in existing
pavements. Pavement with dowel bar retrofits can have life extensions of as much
as 20 years. Its application is almost exclusively on high‐speed Interstate highways.
Spot high friction treatments – Spot high‐friction treatments involve using epoxy
based resin liquids as a binder for an aggregate with high‐friction properties. These
are used in locations where drivers are frequently braking and the pavement
surface has less resistance to slipping.
Diamond grinding – Diamond grinding involves using a gang saw to cut grooves in
the pavement surface to restore smoothness and eliminate any joint faulting.
Pavement patching – Pavement patching involves selectively repairing portions of
the pavement where the slabs are generally in good condition, but corners or joints
are broken. The depth of the patch could be full depth or partial depth.
July 8, 2013

The Americans with Disabilities Act authorizes the Department of Justice (the Department) to
provide technical assistance to individuals and entities that have rights or responsibilities under the
Act. This document provides informal guidance to assist you in understanding the ADA and the
Department's regulations.
This guidance document is not intended to be a final agency action, has no legally binding effect,
and may be rescinded or modified in the Department’s complete discretion, in accordance with
applicable laws. The Department’s guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish
legally enforceable responsibilities beyond what is required by the terms of the applicable statutes,
regulations, or binding judicial precedent.