Celebrating 25 years of Test Track and Lab Research Innovation

For 25 years, NCAT’s Test Track and laboratory facilities have redefined asphalt pavement research and innovation, shaping how roads are designed, built, and maintained across the country. Since opening in 2000, the 1.7-mile Test Track and NCAT's main lab facility have served as the backbone of sponsor-driven research, providing the industry with trusted, real-world data that informs
better pavements.

Since the first trucks rolled across the Track’s test sections, it has given the asphalt industry something rare: a place where ideas can be tested, proven, and put to work. The ability to compress decades of traffic into a few years has provided sponsors with dependable data to guide decisions about materials, designs, and practices. This accelerated approach has lowered the risk of adopting new technologies while speeding up the pace of improvements on highways and city streets. 

Over its first 25 years, it has become known as America’s asphalt pavement proving ground.

“The NCAT Test Track has provided the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) with a powerful tool for making informed, data-driven decisions in our pavement program,” said Heather Purdy, director of TDOT’s Materials and Tests Division. “The research investments TDOT has made at the Track have delivered a substantial return, positively shaping our program. We deeply appreciate the dedication and passion of the NCAT team, whose efforts continue to drive innovation and excellence in pavement research.”

TDOT has participated in every research cycle since the Test Track opened. Their work has included Balanced Mix Design (BMD) evaluations, a thick-thin lift study, and active participation in group experiments. These efforts have supported Tennessee’s expansion of mix design options, validation of their BMD framework, and broader improvements to long-term pavement performance.

Since the first research cycle began in September of 2000, eight completed research cycles have advanced major topics such as validation of Superpave mixes, advancements in open-graded friction courses, calibration of pavement structural design models and layer coefficients, validation of cold recycling base layers, validation of cracking tests and BMD criteria, and evaluation of traditional or innovative pavement preservation and friction treatments.
"The major finding from our involvement at the Test Track has been related to the use of pavement recycling techniques in high traffic environments,” said Dr. Brian Diefenderfer, principal research scientist at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “VDOT has gained great experience and knowledge from our test sections that have been applied in several reconstruction and widening projects on the interstate system across
the state.”

Beyond its sponsored test sections, VDOT has also implemented new ideas inspired by sponsor meetings and NCAT staff interactions, most notably, the exploration of thick-lift pavement layers and improved pavement instrumentation techniques
in their own accelerated pavement testing and
research network.

For many transportation agencies and industry partners, NCAT and the Test Track have played a key role in reducing risk when adopting new or changing materials. The performance data generated from these projects has led to updates to specifications, improved long-term performance and enabled broader adoption of emerging technologies across the asphalt community, creating a ripple effect
of innovation.

“The Test Track would not be what it is today without the commitment of our sponsors,” said Nathan Moore, assistant director for Test Track research.

“Their collaboration ensures that every research cycle addresses the real-world challenges faced by agencies and industry, and their support allows us to deliver solutions that directly impact the future
of pavements.” 

“Their partnership is the foundation of the Test Track’s success and the driving force behind the innovations that have come from it over the past 25 years,” Moore added.

Expanding research capabilities

In 2000, the launch of the Test Track was matched by another milestone with the opening of NCAT’s 40,000-square-foot administrative and laboratory building, which consolidated the center’s research and training capabilities under one roof.

Financed through a partnership with Auburn University, the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s Research and Education Foundation (NAPAREF), and the city of Auburn, Alabama, the new facility expanded sponsor access to cutting-edge performance testing and expert support.

NCAT’s AASHTO-accredited lab supports implementation by providing state-of-the-art materials testing under a wide range of aging and loading conditions, helping sponsors make informed decisions about material selection and mix design practices. NCAT test methods are applied in training and advanced through partnerships with AASHTO and ASTM.

Together, the Test Track and lab have made NCAT a national hub for sponsor-driven research, supported by more than 30 sponsoring organizations and a team of over 60 dedicated researchers, engineers, and staff.

This collective effort has resulted in a quarter-century of practical, implementable research that has helped improve roads across the country.

“The Test Track and our labs have shown what’s possible when research and real-world needs come together,” said Randy West, director of NCAT. “For 25 years, our sponsors and staff have helped turn innovation into practice, and we are confident the next 25 will bring even greater advances for the asphalt community and the traveling public.”

Partners in progress

As NCAT looks toward its 40th anniversary as a research center in 2026, we remain focused on helping our partners tackle evolving infrastructure challenges. The next 25 years will continue to prioritize collaborative research that equips sponsors with the data, tools, and confidence needed to implement high-performing asphalt solutions.