About SCAPA

Who We Are

The South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association (“SCAPA”) is a non-profit trade association representing the asphalt pavement producers in South Carolina, as well as the suppliers to the industry to include suppliers of aggregate, liquid asphalt and emulsions; suppliers of additives, truck bed release agents and biodegradable extraction solvents; asphalt milling and recycling companies; certified public accounting firms; engineering & testing firms; equipment dealers; insurance brokers; natural gas suppliers; surety bond agencies; traffic control & pavement marking suppliers; and transport.

SCAPA participates in various research and educational programs to develop the best product, new paving techniques, and the highest quality of workmanship.

Producer member-firms of the Association take great pride in their work and continue to prove their ability to satisfy the rigid requirements set by the S.C. Department of Transportation, Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, the Federal Aviation Administration and the engineers and architects engaged in private practice. We work and partner closely with these agencies to ensure we put the best product on the roads for the citizens of South Carolina. 

In addition to partnering with local, state and federal agencies, SCAPA members work closely with the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the Asphalt Pavement Alliance and the Asphalt Institute to enhance the quality of asphalt pavement and to promote asphalt pavement as the pavement of choice for roads.

Our Mission

South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association (“SCAPA”) is a non-profit trade association dedicated to:

• Protecting, promoting and advancing the progress, interest and welfare of the producers of plant mixed asphalt paving materials;
• Encouraging the highest standards of business ethics and workmanship;
• Encouraging the discussion, coordination and pursuit of solutions to problems of common interest and concern to the producers of plant mixed asphalt paving materials; and
• Fostering a cooperative spirit and understanding between the producers of plant mixed asphalt paving mixtures and industry partners.

Our History & Motto

On November 2, 1966, ten forward thinking and responsible asphalt plant mix producers came together and petitioned O. Frank Thorton, then Secretary of State for South Carolina, for an eleemosynary corporation charter in the name of the South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association. The charter was issued and the Association was born.

In 1966, Robert E. McNair was governor, S.N. Pearman was chief highway commissioner and W.N. Dulin was the district engineer for South Carolina for the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads (now Federal Highway Administration). The interstate highway program was still in its infancy. Only I-85 was completed with I-20, I-26 and I-95 miles from completion. Discussions to extend I-77 to Columbia had not yet begun.

Asphalt plants were either batch or continuous mix and were manually controlled. Drum plants were nonexistent. Automatic grade controls were new to pavers. No one had heard of a vibratory roller for compacting asphalt pavements. The nuclear density gauge for determining roadway density was yet to be invented. Today, all of that equipment with automatic controls is utilized in the daily production and construction operations.

During the late sixties, commercial passenger jet planes were beginning to be introduced in South Carolina which triggered runway expansions at our states major airports. Asphalt was the pavement of choice for that work.

The past 50+ years have brought many positive changes to the asphalt paving industry. Today, state of the art plants and paving equipment are used and the design and testing of asphalt is more sophisticated. An increased emphasis on continuing educational programs for asphalt production and construction personnel is preparing the industry for the future years.

“Together we know more”, the Association’s motto, best describes the reason for the existence of the South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association. The Association is a statewide trade association of contractor member-firms engaged in the production of high quality asphalt pavement. These firms construct all types of environmentally friendly asphalt pavements ranging from tennis courts to airport runways, parking lots, streets and highways.