"NovaChip" is the latest high-tech weapon in the preventive maintenance arsenal of the highway superintendent. It's a paving process that places a thin open-graded coarse aggregate HMA overlay in a membrane of polymer modified asphalt emulsion. It's unique in that it is essentially a surface treatment that's made in an asphalt hot mix plant and placed with a specialized paver. In some specifications, it's called "paver placed surface treatment" or "ultra thin HMA wearing course". The open texture of the mix gives the surface very high skid numbers, reduces water spray from tires and can lower tire noise. The heavy asphalt emulsion membrane (0.2 gal/SY - 0.9 L/mē), provides an excellent seal and tightly bonds the NovaChip mix to the old asphalt or concrete road surface - protecting it and extending its life by several years. Because it is paved so thin (about 5/8 in. - 16 mm), curb reveal is retained, guide rail and roadway irons do not have to be adjusted, transitions to side streets and driveways are easy, and overhead clearances are maintained.