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The California Asphalt Pavement Association
Vol. 19, Issue 18 || May 4, 2026
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Greetings!
This weekly report contains news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry, customers and agency partners in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. To subscribe to the newsletter click HERE. To provide feedback or story ideas click HERE. Having difficulty viewing this newsletter? View as Webpage
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New CHP data shows sharp uptick in enforcement actions in highway work zones | | |
Coming on the heels of national Work Zone Awareness Week, new data shows a sharp increase in enforcement activity by the California Highway Patrol in highway construction zones. The increase in citations and arrests appears related to a more active posture in enforcing traffic laws where highway workers are present.
The data was hailed by Caltrans and the construction industry, which are working closely on several initiatives to reduce crashes and intrusions along the state highway system where construction and maintenance personnel are present.
"With the recent shift in strategy to roving patrols and active enforcement within the work zone, we have seen a significant increase in the number of citations being written," Ray Hopkins, chief of the Caltrans Division of Construction, told Asphalt Insider. "The ultimate goal is to influence driver behavior in the work zones and to create a safer environment for our highway workers as well as the traveling public. I appreciate the support of our partners at the CHP in their efforts to enhance the safety of both the traveling public and our workers in active work zones."
Contacted by Asphalt Insider, a CHP official confirmed the change in strategy and reiterated that work zone safety is a priority for the department.
In highway construction speak, having CHP officers on scene at active construction zones is known by its acronym, COZEEP, which is shorthand for Construction Work Zone Enhanced Enforcement Program. The COZEEP program is an inter-agency agreement between Caltrans and the CHP, subject to funding availability and considered on a project-by-project basis, with the costs added to the overall cost of the project. Details on the program is part of the Section 2-215 of the Caltrans construction manual, which can be found on-line HERE. A similar program known as MAZEEP is designed to improve safety in select active maintenance work where Caltrans maintenance personnel are present. Generally the CHP officers performing this work are working on overtime, and many of the COZEEP projects take place at night.
In the citation and arrest statistics released last week, covering the first quarter of 2026, the CHP reported there were a total of 4,081 citations, 31 miscellaneous arrests 82 drunken-driving arrests in COZEEP zones, as well as 3,353 citations, 131 miscellaneous arrest and 26 DUI arrests in MAZEEP zones. In sharing the data, Hopkins noted that the numbers represent a 500% increase over the same period last year.
The increased citations is largely attributable to new guidance the CHP leadership transmitted to CHP officers to actively patrol work zones rather than to take up stationary positions as a deterrent, which often are behind a barrier and can limit rapid response to unsafe driving by motorists passing through work zones.
The data was cheered by the construction industry.
Mike Ghilotti, owner of San Rafael-based Ghilotti Brothers Inc. and a vocal champion of work zone safety, said he was “absolutely excited” by the recent CHP citation statistics, adding that the more active participation of CHP in highway work zones will send a strong message to motorists to slow down and drive more cautiously."
“People are at risk every night,” he added. “Drivers are more distracted than ever, and are speeding through work zones. This is vital to saving our workers' lives.”
Ghilotti noted that COZEEP is just one of a number of highway work zone safety improvements being jointly pushed forward by Caltrans and the construction industry via a partnering steering committee. In a recent prominent example, the construction industry rallied around a bill to launch a pilot project to install automated speed enforcement systems in select highway construction zones, as has been done in some other states. Ghilotti said studies have shown showing that even a slight reduction in speeds in work zones can greatly reduce the incidents of vehicular intrusions into where construction activity – and workers – are present.
The automated speed enforcement bill, AB289, authored by Assemblyman Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, was endorsed by a broad coalition of stakeholders including CalAPA. It passed the Legislature and was signed into law by the governor last year. Caltrans is currently building out the behind-the-scenes staffing and infrastructure to get the program off the ground, according to Jeremy Peterson-Self, deputy chief of the Caltrans Construction Division. A previous Asphalt Insider article about that bill is HERE.
The new enforcement data was a bit of good news in the wake of a national campaign that kicked off last month to bring attention to the importance of driving safely in highway work zones as the summer construction season shifts into high gear, punctuated by a somber Worker Memorial event held April 23 in West Sacramento with Caltrans, construction industry and CHP officials present. A Caltrans news release, which includes links to resources and a video of the ceremony, can be found HERE. A previous Asphalt Insider story of that ceremony is HERE.
In conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), a CalAPA partner, is offering free on-line work zone safety training that can be accessed all year long. That training can be accessed HERE. It was noted that work zone safety is a year-round commitment, and there are many resources available to back up the effort. "Watch for Us" campaign in its 10th year, is meant to call attention to the problem of distracted driving and other behaviors by motorists that put highway workers in danger. A clearinghouse of various Work Zone Awareness campaign materials, including links to graphics, promotional ideas and other resources, can be found HERE.
| | Getting ready for 'Asphalt Day' May 15 | |
"Asphalt Day," a celebration of all things asphalt, is scheduled to take place on May 15. The brainchild of the Asphalt Institute, a CalAPA partner, the day has been embraced by the industry as fun way to remind everyone of the important role asphalt plays in our everyday lives, even if most people don't often think about it.
Various activities are planned to mark the occasion, and the Asphalt Institute has assembled resources to support the campaign HERE. Asphalt Day has special significance this year as the nation celebrates the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66, the storied "Mother Road" that stretches 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, terminating at the Santa Monica Pier. Asphalt is, of course, the signature pavement that carried generations of travelers West, immortalized in literature in John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath." Steinbeck, who once worked at an asphalt plant in California, wrote rapturously about asphalt pavements in his novel "The Wayward Bus." The key excerpt, read with conviction by Hall of Fame member Len Nawrocki at more than one CalAPA event, can be viewed HERE.
In preparation for Asphalt Day, CalAPA posted a photo on social media of the asphalt "shrine" in the CalAPA offices in West Sacramento.The Instagram post can be viewed HERE. Last year's photo of the "shrine" was the most liked and shared CalAPA social media post of the year on our LinkedIn page. New items have been added to the display in 2026, thanks to generous donations by many CalAPA patrons. Those who can identify the new items, and drop us a note HERE, may or may not be eligible for a prize.
CalAPA also appears to be an increasingly popular destination for people to send their asphalt-related vacation photos. Recent arrivals have come in to the office from Brandon Milar, CalAPA's Technical Director, who sent in an historic Route 66 asphalt cross section photo from Arizona, and longtime CalAPA trainer Roger Smith. Smith's photo from Tahiti rivals in distance the far-away photos previously published in the CalAPA magazine courtesy of Andrew Onoja, a Nigerian federal roads official who is now a graduate student at the University of California, Davis. That magazine article is HERE.
Asphalt may not be very colorful, but the people behind it certainly are.
| | A section of historic Route 66 graced the cover of last year's CalAPA Almanac, Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide. About 315 miles of historic Route 66's entire 2,448 mile route is in California, from the Arizona border near Needles to Santa Monica. The photo, by Bill Wright, was taken on Newberry Road near Newberry Springs in the western Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County. | | CalAPA trainer Roger Smith inspects asphalt pavement last week in Tahiti. Smith, a former senior materials engineer for Caltrans and association executive, has trained more than 2,000 industry and agency personnel in CalAPA's "Asphalt Pavement 101" class. He is continuously gathering new material to update his curriculum, although his Tahiti excursion is not being billed to CalAPA. | | CalAPA's Technical Director, Brandon Milar, snapped this photo last week of a historic Route 66 asphalt cross-section display in Ash Fork, Ariz. The layers give an indication of the the evolution of pavement design to keep pace with ever-changing traffic demands. Core samples of asphalt similar to this are part of the "shrine" in CalAPA's West Sacramento office. An Instagram post of the latest iteration of the display is HERE. The Route 66 Centennial Commission website of resources related to this topic is HERE. | | Asphalt and resilience showcased in Roads & Bridges magazine | |
The many resilient attributes of asphalt pavements are highlighted in a recent article in Roads & Bridges magazine, authored by Asphalt Pavement Alliance Technical Director Buzz Powell. The Roads & Bridges article can be viewed on-line HERE.
Powell, a former Alabama DOT engineer who went on to a storied career at the National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn University (NCAT), spoke recently at CalAPA's Spring Asphalt Conference, and was featured in an in-depth Q&A that appeared in the CalAPA association magazine, California Asphalt, which can be viewed on-line HERE.
In the Roads & Bridges piece, Powell notes that resilience isn’t just a characteristic of great infrastructure—it’s a design philosophy. Asphalt pavements are engineered not only to withstand extreme events, but also to recover quickly and continue delivering long-term performance.
The article cites numerous examples, from perpetual ("long-life") pavements and HiMod innovations to designing for flooding, heavy loads, and rapid recovery supporting a more durable, adaptable, and resilient transportation network. A California Asphalt magazine cover story about long-life asphalt pavements in California is HERE.
The APA is partially funded by CalAPA. The APA website is HERE. APA Executive Director Mike Skinner will provide more national insight at CalAPA's annual "Summit at the Summit" Executive Leadership Forum, which is scheduled to take place June 24-25 at Lake Tahoe. Details about that member-only event can be found HERE.
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Derby-worthy memories await at CalAPA's 'Day at the Races' July 18 at Dal Mar | |
The connections between the Kentucky Derby and CalAPA's annual "Day at the Races" at Del Mar are unmistakable, as are the fantastic finishes.
By now horse-racing fans know that the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, which took place Saturday at Churchill Downs, was another one for the ages. A 23-1 longshot, Golden Tempo, exploded from the back of the18-horse field to take the race by a neck, and deliver the first Derby win by a female trainer, Cherie DeVaux. As if there wasn't enough drama, Golden Tempo, with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, edged out Renegade, with Ortiz' older brother, Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard, with their proud parents among the estimated 150,000 spectators in attendance. If that's not enough heart-stopping action, coming in third was Ocelli, a whopping 70-1 longshot.
CalAPA's annual "Day at the Races" is once again set for opening weekend of the thoroughbred racing season a Del Mar, a storied track that has seen its own share of epic memories. The date is Saturday, July 18, and the association has once again reserved a luxury suite right above the finish line. Space is limited on early registration is strongly encouraged and can be completed on-line HERE.
The Derby-Del Mar connections are many, including the legendary run for the roses by California Chrome, who raced at Del Mar before going on to Kentucky glory in 2014. Famed trainers, including Bob Baffert, with 17 individual Triple Crown race wins on his resume and two Triple Crowns, joined CalAPA members in the Winners Circle for a previous "Day at the Races" event.
The luxury suite will feature a buffet lunch, refreshments, in-suite bar, snacks and private betting windows with one of the best views at the seaside track. Once again the "Women of Asphalt California Chapter" will be back with a festive hat contest that evokes the pageantry of Churchill Downs. Special discount pricing for kids make the event popular for the whole family.
For more information on the event, contact Jackie Henry at (916) 791-5044.
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Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.
CREOSOTE: An oily liquid, used in wood preservation, colorless when pure but usually colored yellow or brown by impurity or exposure.
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Paving Pointer of the Week | |
Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION REVIEW: Every paving project should start with a detailed review of the project's contract, plans, and specifications. Any questions arising from this review should be promptly directed to the design firm's engineers.
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Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE. A recent CalAPA magazine story on the topic is HERE.
WILDLIFE HABITAT: Wildlife areas that provide opportunities for food, water, and nesting. Information from Caltrans about a prominent wildlife crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills (Los Angles County), the largest wildlife crossing of its kind in the nation, is HERE.
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Caltrans Statewide Crude Oil Price Index | |
Editor's Note: As a convenience to our readers, Asphalt Insider reports the most current Caltrans "Statewide Crude Oil Price Index" posting. The department posts this monthly on its public website HERE. The index is used to calculate payment adjustments for paving asphalt under special provisions section "Payment Adjustments for Price Index Fluctuations" in those projects containing the section. The department posts the index on or about the first business day of the month using the daily Brent crude oil prices from the previous month as reported by Business Insider. Inquiries about the index should be directed to Caltrans at: Oil.Index@dot.ca.gov .
May 2026: $557.3 ($/ton)
Last month: $546.8
1 year ago: $358.6
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"Life is really simple, but men insist on making it complicated."
– Confucius
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We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter, widely regarded as the most influential publication of its type in California. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, people, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE. We are committed to promptly notifying our readers of any errors in this publication. Please click on the comment link above to alert the editor of any errors or omissions.
Sincerely,
Russell W. Snyder, CAE
Executive Director
The California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®
| | The "Asphalt Insider" is an official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. For more information or to inquire about membership, call (916) 791-5044, or click HERE to contact us. Copyright © 2026 California Asphalt Pavement Association -- All Rights Reserved. The CalAPA name (No. 5,621,794) and logo (No. 5,621,795) are registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | | | | |
