For the past couple of years, News 5 has been exposing problems with the city of Cleveland's road paving and maintenance. This week the National Pavement Expo is at the convention center in downtown Cleveland.
We talked with some people about new ways to fix pavement including using infrared technology.
“We have the latest innovations and technologies pavement maintenance and reconstruction,” said convention organizer Russ Turner.
We talked with Kasi Infrared that says it has a solution to utility cuts and potholes.
We asked Kasi Infrared President Roger Filion what the technology is all about.
“It's basically a seamless repair for asphalt repairs,” said Filion. “What you basically are doing is you're taking existing asphalt...you're lowering a chamber with infrared converters or infrared heaters in them that generate an infrared ray that penetrates down into the asphalt. So, what you're doing is taking the existing asphalt and bringing it back to its virgin state like you would have gotten it 20 years ago at the asphalt plant,” he explained.
“The beauty of the infrared process is it saves municipalities, towns, taxpayers, everybody a boatload of money,” said Filion who added that many road repairs only require a two-man crew and are done within 20 minutes.
We also found local businesses at the national expo including Midwest Parking Lot Maintenance from Eastlake.
“There's a lot of new technology here,” said Mike Byrd from Midwest Parking Lot. “There's a lot of great equipment, a lot of new tools to make the job easier, faster…safer. Those types of things. So, a lot of our employees are here, too, and they're walking the show and they're bringing us ideas, new things to buy, new equipment.”
News 5 reached out to the city of Cleveland to see if any city leaders have gone to the expo. And if so, what have they learned?
Latoya Hunter, assistant media relations director and acting director of communications for Mayor Frank Jackson's Office, said the City of Cleveland does not have anyone attending the conference.
