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Idaho Transportation
Department

Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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ITD expands program for testers, samplers

ITD expanded its qualification program, effective this week, for nearly 1,800 persons who sample or test materials used in federally funded highway construction projects.

Federal regulations require that anyone who samples or tests on a federal aid project must be qualified according to prescribed standards. The Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction (WAQTC) established standards and provides qualification for 11 western states (Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.)

WAQTC’s mission is to provide “leadership in the pursuit of continuously improving quality in transportation construction. The organization mission is to:

• promote an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, and communication between government agencies and the private sector
• respond in a unified and consistent manner to identified quality improvement needs and new technologies that impact the products provided
• provide a forum to promote uniform test standards
• provide highly skilled, knowledgeable materials sampling and testing technicians, and
• provide reciprocity for Qualified testing technicians between accredited agencies

Idaho’s samplers and testers must meet WAQTC’s minimum standards. But ITD has built on those minimum expectations and extended the period for certification from three to five years, effective this year.

“The Idaho Transportation Department will be converting the three-year sampler tester qualification and re-qualification process to a five-year process,” explained Jeff Miles, ITD’s State Materials Engineer. “All individuals who have valid, current qualifications through December 2005 will receive a two-year extension.”

The extension will not be given to individuals whose qualifications have expired or been suspended.

The four qualification areas in Idaho are: 1) aggregate material, 2) asphalt material, 3) concrete, and 4) embankment and base (related to compaction). Concrete laboratory qualification may be added to Idaho’s requirements.

ITD and three vendors – Idaho State University, Spokane Community College and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Idaho administer training for testers and samplers working in Idaho.

Garth Newman, a training specialist for the Division of Highways Materials Section at Headquarters, manages the tester, sampler program.

 

Published 1-6-06