Skip to main content

Help for US agencies’ to use new tool to boost concrete pavement quality

In a bid to reduce costs, increase pavement quality, and minimise travel delays caused by road construction, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) are to help agencies implement a tool that allows contractors to identify concrete pavement surface irregularities during construction. Real-time pavement smoothness has been selected for guided implementation under the second Stra
April 23, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
In a bid to reduce costs, increase pavement quality, and minimise travel delays caused by road construction, the US 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the 3510 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the 2774 Transportation Research Board (TRB) are to help agencies implement a tool that allows contractors to identify concrete pavement surface irregularities during construction.

Real-time pavement smoothness has been selected for guided implementation under the second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2). In May 2014, SHRP2 will begin accepting applications from state departments of transportation (DOTs) who wish to use real-time concrete pavement smoothness to speed up construction and increase quality on their projects.

SHRP2 is an initiative committed to delivering solutions that address growing congestion and aging infrastructure while increasing roadway and construction safety. During typical construction, contractors must wait for concrete pavement to gain adequate strength before evaluating smoothness, which can result in costly penalties and corrective grinding to meet requirements. By monitoring the smoothness of freshly placed concrete, contractors can make timely adjustments to improve operations, increase quality control, and deliver pavements faster.

Two devices measuring real-time pavement smoothness will be available for implementation assistance—the 218 Gomaco Smoothness Indicator (GMI) and the Ames Engineering Real Time Profiler (RTP). These products were selected for implementation after research and evaluation performed by pavement engineering firm The 5943 Transtec Group under SHRP2.

Principal Investigators Dr Robert O. Rasmussen, Steven M. Karamihas and Gary J. Fick evaluated the devices for practicality and accuracy during pavement projects in Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, and New York. You can access the full results of this study—including guidelines for implementation—at TRB online.

State DOTs can apply to participate in the SHRP2 effort to familiarise agencies and associated contractors with the selected real-time pavement smoothness devices. The program aims to provide participating agencies with approximately $60,000 worth of equipment rental, training, and technical support.

Agencies interested in participating must apply online during the application period extending from 30 May – 27 June 2014. To learn more, %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal click here http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2/ImplementationAssistance false http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/goshrp2/ImplementationAssistance false false%>

Related Content

  • McBains Cooper wins PPP consultancy contract in Medellin, Colombia
    May 18, 2016
    Construction consultants McBains Cooper has won a contract to help improve public-private partnership skill for the Colombian city of Medellin. McBains will train Medellin PPP Agency to help implement PPP procured projects in the city, Colombia’s second largest. Apart from road works that will include a new urban highway, projects will be across the transportation sector as well as in education such as school construction. Santiago Klein, international director at McBains Cooper, said the objective of
  • The second ERF LAB event: 10 years down the road?
    October 24, 2019
    The second ERF LAB event* in Brussels examined the ‘Impact of new mobility on road infrastructure and equipment’, writes Christophe Nicodème, director-general of the ERF
  • Intermat launch for Michelin tyre programme
    January 6, 2017
    Michelin has launched its Earthmover Professional Programme to recognise dealers capable of providing consistent, high-quality, professional on-site service while complying with Michelin’s safety and environmental standards. With the aim of providing the industry with a Europe-wide network of dedicated dealers capable of on-site servicing and support for the industry with round-the-clock availability, the program is backed by audits conducted by independent organisations in real-life earthmover tyre mountin
  • Intermat launch for Michelin tyre programme
    April 13, 2012
    Michelin has launched its Earthmover Professional Programme to recognise dealers capable of providing consistent, high-quality, professional on-site service while complying with Michelin’s safety and environmental standards. With the aim of providing the industry with a Europe-wide network of dedicated dealers capable of on-site servicing and support for the industry with round-the-clock availability, the program is backed by audits conducted by independent organisations in real-life earthmover tyre mountin