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

  • Highways Agency rebrands as part of its first five-year plan
    December 10, 2014
    The UK’s Highways Agency will rebrand as part of the organisation’s first five-year Strategic Business Plan to maintain England’s motorways and major A roads up to 2020. The plan for England’s strategic road network was developed response to the Road Investment Strategy published in early December. The UK government is getting set to make deliver the largest investment in roads since the 1970s and wants to make sure it gets value for money as well as nearly US$1.9 billion (£1.2 billion) of efficiency savin
  • Sandvik Mobile Crushers and Screens unveil two new models
    February 13, 2013
    Sandvik Construction Mobile Crushers and Screens is officially launching two new additions to its product offering, a new heavy-duty scalper and a new Impactor model. The latest incarnation of the original E7 mobile scalper is said to demonstrate the value of customer feedback and experience, as the new model contains a “wish list of features and benefits that far exceed traditional expectations of durability and technical excellence.” Customer requirements, said to have been met with the new model, include
  • Waitzinger concrete pumps shown in Liebherr colours for the first time
    January 6, 2017
    Bauma 2013 will see the former Waitzinger concrete pump range in Liebherr livery for the first time, following the purchase of the company in October 2012. Liebherr will show four pumps, including the compact 41 M5XXT and the high capacity THP 160H/36 R4XXH. This truck-mounted pump has a four-section 36m boom yet sits on the narrow XXH outrigger supports and is capable of handling up to 160m3/h of concrete delivery.
  • Waitzinger concrete pumps shown in Liebherr colours for the first time
    February 7, 2013
    Bauma 2013 will see the former Waitzinger concrete pump range in Liebherr livery for the first time, following the purchase of the company in October 2012. Liebherr will show four pumps, including the compact 41 M5XXT and the high capacity THP 160H/36 R4XXH. This truck-mounted pump has a four-section 36m boom yet sits on the narrow XXH outrigger supports and is capable of handling up to 160m3/h of concrete delivery.