On December 26, 2024, the Ministry of Transport issued Announcement No. 62 of the People’s Republic of China Ministry of Transport, officially publishing the industry standard “Technical Specification for the Application of Mechanically Produced Sand in Highway Engineering” (JTG/T 3681-2024), led and compiled by Kan She Co., Ltd. This standard will come into effect on March 1, 2025. As the first engineering construction standard in the transportation sector formulated under the leadership of a transportation enterprise in Guizhou Province, the lead drafting organization is Guizhou Provincial Transportation Planning, Survey & Design Research Institute Co., Ltd. Participating organizations include Tongji University, Guizhou Hongxin Chuanda Engineering Testing & Consulting Co., Ltd., Guangxi Road & Bridge Engineering Group Co., Ltd., Chang’an University, Poly Changda Engineering Co., Ltd., and other institutions. This standard effectively promotes the sustainable utilization of sand and gravel resources in Guizhou Province and the comprehensive social development, providing strong support for Guizhou Province’s “Four New and Four Modernizations” strategy.
Sand is a key material for constructing the skeletal structure of concrete and asphalt pavements, making it the resource with the highest demand in highway engineering construction. As river sand resources become increasingly scarce, manufactured sand—with its superior performance—has been widely adopted in concrete and asphalt pavements and has now become the primary source of sand used in China’s construction industry. The “Technical Specification for the Application of Manufactured Sand in Highway Engineering” (JTG/T 3681-2024) primarily sets forth requirements regarding the technical specifications of manufactured sand, as well as material design, construction, and quality control for cement concrete made with manufactured sand and asphalt mixtures containing manufactured sand. This specification represents the first recommended technical standard for the application of manufactured sand in the transportation sector, providing a solid technical foundation for enhancing the level of manufactured sand utilization, ensuring the quality of highway construction, and promoting the development of green transportation.
This specification has been developed in accordance with the principles of “ecological protection, adaptation to local conditions, reliable quality, and cost-effectiveness,” systematically addressing the standardization and harmonization of technical indicators for the application of manufactured sand in China’s highway engineering sector. The publication and implementation of the “Technical Specification for the Application of Manufactured Sand in Highway Engineering” will play a crucial guiding role in China’s highway construction and maintenance efforts over the coming period.
