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

  • Treatment Train’ SuDS tool for surface water quality
    November 11, 2013
    An innovative tool aims to help users explore the options for designing and building a surface-water ‘Treatment Train’ as part of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). The new, free-to-use Treatment Selection Tool, available at www.hydro-int.com/stormtrain/tool, has been developed by Hydro International in response to tougher environmental and planning requirements for SuDS that remove silts, sediments, oils and pollutants from surface water runoff.
  • ERF welcomes European Commission’s consultation on charging for the use of infrastructure
    January 2, 2013
    That roads are essential for Europe’s prosperity is something no policymaker in their right mind would deny Roads have a major impact on our daily lives, as it is one of the primary means of access to employment, services, and social activities. Moreover, by linking people and other modes of transport, they are a sine qua non for achieving greater cohesion within Europe. In light of this, it is somehow hard to believe how long it has taken policymakers to wake up to an inconvenient truth. This is that chr
  • GOMACO develops highly versatile compact sidewalk paver
    January 6, 2017
    GOMACO is introducing the GT-3200 sidewalk paver with an adjustable aggregate base mold on the front and a sidewalk paving mold on the rear. This three-track paver is designed for zero-clearance sidewalk rehabilitation projects, to meet a contractor’s unique request. The front-mounted adjustable aggregate base mold spreads the base aggregate for the sidewalk. During the first pass, rock is placed on grade and an auger spreads the material, while three pan vibrators fitted to the mold start compaction. The b
  • GOMACO develops highly versatile compact sidewalk paver
    January 28, 2013
    GOMACO is introducing the GT-3200 sidewalk paver with an adjustable aggregate base mold on the front and a sidewalk paving mold on the rear. This three-track paver is designed for zero-clearance sidewalk rehabilitation projects, to meet a contractor’s unique request. The front-mounted adjustable aggregate base mold spreads the base aggregate for the sidewalk. During the first pass, rock is placed on grade and an auger spreads the material, while three pan vibrators fitted to the mold start compaction. The b