Smit, Michelle ARust, FCMturi, GoergesMokoena, RefiloeNtombela, RMarais, Herman2025-09-252025-09-252025-07http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14412The incorporation of plastic waste in road pavement materials presents a promising opportunity for sustainable infrastructure development. In South Africa, introducing any innovation requires compliance with national performance criteria and guidance from mechanistic-empirical design methods. This study evaluated the rutting resistance performance of a road pavement section surfaced with plastic waste modified asphalt (PWMA) produced via the wet method – where plastic waste is integrated into the bituminous binder before mixing. An Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) program was adopted for the permanent deformation testing of a coarse continuously-graded asphalt wearing course modified with plastic waste. The PWMA was produced with post-consumer recycled plastic waste and also incorporated a Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymer (RET). Test sections were constructed in Gauteng, South Africa, comprising a reference asphalt (based on a standard unmodified bitumen used in South Africa) structure and a PWMA layer. Both sections were subjected to simulated traffic loading using a Heavy Vehicle Simulator (HVS) at speeds of 12km/h, varying wheel loads (40, 60 and 80 kN dual wheel load), and controlled temperatures reflective of local pavement conditions. Performance monitoring involved surface and embedded measurement tools, including Road Surface Deflectometer (RSD), Multi Depth Deflectometer (MDD), standard straight edge, thermocouples and temperature buttons. After 2.9 million equivalent standard axles (ESALs) of HVS loading, the PWMA section demonstrated enhanced rutting resistance, with an average rut depth of 7.2 mm, compared to 10.4 mm for the reference section, which reached a maximum rut of 12mm.These results align with laboratory findings, confirming that the addition of plastic waste increases the structural integrity of asphalt layers by enhancing resistance to permanent deformation. This study supports the potential for adopting PWMA in South African road infrastructure to meet national performance standards and sustainability goals.FulltextenPlastic wasteRoad constructionHot mix asphaltWet modification methodConference Presentationn/a