By Kyle Stansbury
Class 2 Road Base is a fully recycled aggregate blend—combining reclaimed concrete, asphalt, sand, and gravel—formulated to meet Caltrans’ Class 2 specifications. Notably, asphalt is the most recycled material in the United States, with reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) fed directly back into both new surface mixes and underlying road layers. In the same way, demolition by-products from curb and gutter removal or street rehabilitation are processed into Class 2 Base. As the Caltrans-approved CLII mix, it serves as the preferred foundation for freeways, bridges, and any project requiring strict Class 2 compliance.
Technical Standards in California
To qualify as Class 2 Base, the aggregate must satisfy a series of exacting performance and quality standards. First, the material must achieve an R-value of at least 78. It also must demonstrate sufficient structural strength and exhibit a consistent particle-size distribution to ensure uniform load-bearing characteristics. Every production batch undergoes a full suite of laboratory tests—on par with those applied to virgin aggregates—to confirm its long-term durability. Equally critical is the requirement for absolute cleanliness: the product must contain no deleterious fragments such as trash, brick, porcelain, or any other brittle debris that could disintegrate under crushing. Any material that fails to meet these cleanliness or performance benchmarks is ineligible for Class 2 designation.
Material Composition and Gradation Requirements
Class 2 Base is produced by blending reclaimed concrete and asphalt with fines from sand. In essence, the material consists of three primary constituents—concrete, asphalt, and sand—combined to achieve the precise gradation and performance required for Caltrans-compliant road foundations.
Our Class 2 Base is dual-certified to meet both Caltrans Class 2 and AASHTO Green Book Crushed Miscellaneous Base (CMB) specifications. The Caltrans Class 2 standard governs state highway and bridge construction, while the CMB designation—Crushed Miscellaneous Base—is the Green Book requirement for municipal and public-works pavement foundations. By conforming to both sets of gradation and material criteria, our product delivers consistent, versatile performance across a wide range of infrastructure projects—from high-volume freeways to local streets and public works applications.
Strength, Durability, and Load‑Bearing Performance
Compared with conventional base materials, Class 2 Base achieves superior compaction and strength through engineered particle geometry and a cementitious binder. Natural aggregates—blasted rock with rounded grains—tend to roll under compaction, leaving voids that weaken the foundation. In contrast, Class 2 Base particles are flat and elongated, each with three angular faces that interlock tightly when compacted, effectively eliminating voids.
Quality Control Testing and Certification Procedures
Quarterly quality control begins with the collection of representative material samples. Each sample is first screened for contaminants to confirm absolute cleanliness, then subjected to a full suite of analyses—including particle-size distribution for gradation, strength testing, and all other mandated procedures—to verify consistent compliance with Class 2 specifications.
We enforce a “garbage in, garbage out” principle by inspecting each incoming truckload upon arrival—verifying the complete absence of contaminants or deleterious debris. Since any compromised feedstock produces inferior aggregate, this stringent input‐screening protocol is our top priority, ensuring we consistently deliver a solid, specification-compliant Class 2 Base.
Environmental and Sustainability Advantages
While Arcosa’s broader portfolio includes natural aggregates, Arcosa Crushed Concrete prioritizes recycling: we capture concrete and asphalt destined for landfills and reprocess them into Caltrans-compliant Class 2 aggregate. As one of Southern California’s largest recyclers of these demolition by-products, we convert potential waste into a high-performance, environmentally responsible foundation material for road and infrastructure projects.
Conclusion
In every load of Arcosa Crushed Concrete’s Caltrans-approved Class 2 Base, you get the uncompromising strength, consistency, and sustainability your projects demand. Backed by rigorous laboratory testing, stringent truck-by-truck inspections, and dual certification to Caltrans Class 2 and AASHTO CMB standards, our fully recycled aggregate delivers uniform compaction, superior load-bearing performance, and zero deleterious contaminants. With dedicated production and distribution hubs across Texas, Florida, and Southern California—and a logistics team poised to support your schedule—Arcosa is your partner for specification-compliant road foundations of any scale.
Contact your local Arcosa representative today to secure a premium Class 2 Base and keep your infrastructure moving forward.
Author Bio
Kyle Stansbury has been in the construction materials industry since 1996, working for some of the leaders in the recycling market. He began working for Arcosa Crushed Concrete in 2022, where he works as the sales manager for the West Region.
