# De-Bonding of HMA Pavements/Construction Observations The following section presents tack coat application photos and noted overlay construction issues from various WSDOT contracts. - Canonical URL: https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/pavement-management/pavement-distresses/de-bonding-of-hma-pavementsconstruction-observations/ - Last updated: 2026-11-01 - Review: reviewed by licensed professional engineers on the previous Pavement Interactive site, where reviewers were not recorded by name ## Construction Observations of Some Washington State Projects The following section presents tack coat application photos and noted overlay construction issues from various WSDOT contracts. These photos and notes are intended to serve as a preliminary collection of data to be used in identifying construction practices and conditions that lead to de-bonding and bottom-up cracking. Information from these specific contracts has been added to this database because WSDOT personal noticed either pickup or questionable applications of tack during construction. ## Contract 6772, 6749 and 6688 - The following were done in 2004: - C#6772, SR 503, MP 13.82 – 29.96, Rock Creek Rd Vic. to Ham Rd Vic. (Some pickup noticed) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170125091942/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/bidtab/may/may2004/03X312.pdf) - C#6749, SR 12, MP 134.28 – 165.98, Lake Creek to Wildcat Creek - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505172741/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/APR2004/03X313.PDF) - C#6688, SR 97A, MP 201.57 – 214.20, Wenatchee North Paving - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20210117073004/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/DEC/DEC2003/04B006.PDF) - Contract Locations **Contract #6772** ![Tack Coat 1](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6772_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat 2](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6772_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat 3](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6772_31.jpg) *Figures 1–3.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 **Contract #6749** ![Tack Bar 1](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6749_21.jpg) ![Tack Bar 2](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6749_31.jpg) *Figures 4 and 5.* Tack Bar 1 Tack Bar 2 ![Tack Coat 1](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6749_12.jpg) ![Tack Coat 2](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6749_41.jpg) *Figures 6 and 7.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 **Contract #6688** ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6688_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6688_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6688_31.jpg) *Figures 8–10.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6688_41.jpg) ![Tack Coat 5](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6688_51.jpg) *Figures 11 and 12.* Tack Coat 4 Tack Coat 5 Contract 6059, 6098 and 6143 - Projects were completed in 2001: - C#6059, SR 395, MP 45.36 – 61.24, SR 17 to Adams Co. Line (Light tack on Oxidized surface (Pepper application)). - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505164811/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/APR2001/00Y023.pdf) - C#6098, SR 4, MP 0 – 28.2, Jct. SR 101 to West Valley Creek (Tack truck had issues and needed repeated applications to get coverage). - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505171748/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/APR2001/00x309.pdf) - C#6143, SR 101, MP 321.7 – 329.07, Jorsted Creek Vic. to Sund Creek (Some pickup was seen) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170126084123/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/MAY/May2001/98C536.pdf) - Contract Locations **Contract #6059** ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6059_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6059_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6059_31.jpg) *Figures 13–15.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 **Contract #6098** ![Poor Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_61.jpg) ![Poor Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_21.jpg) ![Poor Tack 2A](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_31.jpg) *Figures 16–18.* Poor Tack C Over Tack A Poor Tack 2A ![Poor Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_41.jpg) ![Poor Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_51.jpg) *Figures 19 and 20.* Poor Tack 2B Poor Tack B ![Puddle Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_71.jpg) ![Puddle Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_81.jpg) ![Uneven Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_111.jpg) ![Uneven Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6098_121.jpg) *Figures 21–24.* Puddle Tack A Puddle Tack B Uneven Tack B Uneven Tack C **Contract #6143** ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6143_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_6143_21.jpg) *Figures 25 and 26.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 ## Contract 5816 - Contract 5816, SR 500, MP 8.37-20.37, NE 162nd to SR 14 Vic - Class A PG 64-22, 0.15' mill and overlay - Paved in 2000 (6/20 - MP limits that day were 19.1-19.7) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20161229164300/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/MAR/Mar2000/99X325.pdf) - Comments: streaked tack coat on milled surface **Contract #5816** ![Close Up Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_12.jpg) ![Tack Truck](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_101.jpg) ![Tack Truck](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_111.jpg) *Figures 27–29.* Close Up Tack Tack Truck 2 Tack Truck 3 ![Spray Bar](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_41.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_51.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_61.jpg) *Figures 30–32.* Spray Bar Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 ![Tack Pick Up](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_71.jpg) ![Tack Tracks](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_82.jpg) ![Tack Truck](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_91.jpg) *Figures 33–35.* Tack Pick Up Tack Tracks Tack Truck 1 ![Pothole](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_21.jpg) ![Shoulder, no tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5816_31.jpg) *Figures 36 and 37.* Pothole 2 Shoulder, no tack ## Contract 5700 - Contract 5700, SR 101, MP 249-252, Golf Course Road to Morse Creek - Class A PG 58-22, 0.15' (actual was ~2") - Paved in 2000 (6/26) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20061002102707/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/JUN/jun99/98c541.pdf) - Comments: over clean prelevel, thin coat, fairly uniform, CSS-1 w/10% dilution **Contract #5700** ![Close Up Milled](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_12.jpg) ![Tack Close Up](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_31.jpg) *Figures 38–40.* Close Up Milled Tack Close Up Tack Coat 1 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_41.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_51.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_62.jpg) *Figures 41–43.* Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 Tack Coat 4 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_71.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_81.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_91.jpg) *Figures 44–46.* Tack Coat 5 Tack Coat 6 Tack Coat 7 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_101.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5700_111.jpg) *Figures 47 and 48.* Tack Coat 8 Tack Truck 1 ## Contract 5831 - Contract 5831, SR 2/97, MP 117.15-119.17, Lower Sunnyslope to Easy St - Class A PG 64-34, 0.15' - Paved in 2000 (7/12) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505164756/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/Apr2000/00b005.pdf) - Comments: CSS-1 w/ ~10% dilution, even distribution, double coverage **Contract #5831** ![Close Up Tack](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_11.jpg) ![Spray Bar](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_31.jpg) *Figures 49–51.* Close Up Tack Spray Bar Tack Coat 1 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_41.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_51.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_61.jpg) *Figures 52–54.* Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 Tack Coat 4 ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_71.jpg) ![Tire Pick Up](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_81.jpg) ![Tire Pick Up](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5831_91.jpg) *Figures 55–57.* Tack Coat 5 Tire Pick Up 1 Tire Pick Up 2 ## Contract 5677 - Contract 5677, SR 12, MP 118-134, Surrey Creek to Lake Creek Road - Class 1/2" PG 64-28, 0.15' - Paved in 2000 (8/1) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20061002102550/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/JUN/jun99/98X320.pdf) - Comments: tack very light (not even sticky on shoes) **Contract #5677** ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5677_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5677_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5677_31.jpg) *Figures 58–60.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 ## Contract 5827 - Contract 5827, SR 5, MP 70.9-85.51, SR 508 to Thurston Co Line - Class A PG 64-22, 0.15' - Paved in 2000 (8/17) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505164806/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/Apr2000/99x327.pdf) - Comments: tack very streaky and not broken **Contract #5827** ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5827_11.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5827_21.jpg) ![Tack Coat](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PI_5827_31.jpg) *Figures 61–63.* Tack Coat 1 Tack Coat 2 Tack Coat 3 ## Contract 5841 - Contract 5841, SR 27, MP 75.66-83.10, Freeman to Vic 32nd Ave - Class 1/2" PG 64-28, 0.15' mill and overlay - Paved in 2000 (6/27) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20170505163805/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/APR/Apr2000/00z005.pdf) - Comments: STE-1 used, uniform over milled surface, picking up in wheelpaths (still in valleys of milled surface) ## Contract 5807 - Contract 5807, SR 542, MP 21.41-30.92, Hatchery Rd to Nooksack River Bridge - Class B PG 64-22, 0.12' - Paved in 2000 (7/19) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20161229160706/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/FEB/Feb2000/99A049.pdf) - Comments: very light tack on new prelevel ## Contract 5862 - Contract 5862, SR 14, MP 114.06-134.29, Goodnoe Rd to Wood Creek/Alderdale Rd - Class A PG 64-28, 0.15' - Paved in 2000 (7/27) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20161229164918/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/MAY/May2000/00x300.pdf) - Comments: CSS-1 over prelevel, streaky (told application rate was 0.05-0.08) ## Contract 5609 - Contract 5609, SR 395, MP 241.73-248.54, Columbia River Bridge to Boyds - Class B PG 58-34, 0.15' mill and overlay - Paved in 1999 (date visited was 6/9) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20061002105843/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/MAR/MAR99/99Z020.pdf) - Comments: tack coat looked very good ## Contract 5701 - Contract 5701, SR 14, MP 11.88-21.77, 6th Ave to Clark Co Line (Contract Location) - Class A PG 64-22, 0.20' overlay - Paved in 1999 (9/7) - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20061002102521/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/biz/contaa/BIDTAB/JUN/jun99/99x303.pdf) - Comments: streaked tack coat ## Contract 7060 - Contract 7060, SR 17 (just south of SR 26) - severe delamination during milling. - [Project Bid Tab](https://web.archive.org/web/20210117073128/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/BIZ/CONTAA/BIDTAB/DEC/DEC2005/06b007.PDF) - I recall that on I-5 Maytown project, Mel was out there and made them put two coats on a milled surface and it wouldn't break because there was too much tack and it was a relatively cool night. (Jim, do you have pics?) - Also, I think Jim Weston may have some pictures, but I think on I-90 (contract 6136 or 6151) there was some extreme pick up of the tack in the wheelpaths. Jim will probably have some of the better notes when it comes to tack coat... ## De-bonding on the Moanalua Freeway This is some brief evidence from the State of Hawaii based on cores taken on the Moanalua Freeway.De-bonded pavement cores taken from Moanalua Freeway Ramp 68 - [Boring Locations](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Boring_Locations_for_Halawa_Off_Ramp.pdf) - [Boring Logs](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Boring_logs_1_to_6_Halawa_Off_Ramp.pdf) **Contract #5816** ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring11.jpg) ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring21.jpg) ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring31.jpg) *Figures 64–66.* Boring 1 Boring 2 Boring 3 ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring41.jpg) ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring4A1.jpg) ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring51.jpg) *Figures 67–69.* Boring 4 Boring 4A Boring 5 **Contract #5816** ![Boring](https://pavementinteractive.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/PIHawaiiboring61.jpg) *Figure 70.* Boring 6