News

A recent Federal Highway Administration report on concrete pavement preservation examines the primary factors that affect concrete pavement performance and reviews preservation strategies. The report includes a state-of-the practice review of approaches for evaluating concrete pavement condition and economic analysis techniques for assessing the cost-effectiveness of preservation strategies.

Read the report: Strategies for Concrete Pavement Preservation, February 2019.

Iowa State University researchers have developed a risk-based life-cycle cost analysis framework to enhance bridge management systems. Current systems are unable to account for sudden extreme events or the consequences of long-term extreme environmental exposure in a systematic way. This analysis framework combines site-specific aging and extreme events and can be incorporated into transportation agencies’ current bridge management systems.

Read the research report: Management of Bridges Considering Aging Mechanisms and Extreme Events, February 2019. (Image courtesy of Ohio DOT.)

The American Public Works Association will host a webinar on the future of asset management on Thursday, June 27, from 11 a.m. to noon Eastern Time. The presentation will discuss the new and interesting ways that organizations are using technology to solve problems, become more efficient, and save money. In addition, presenters will forecast what technology can be integrated into current systems and envision what new technology is necessary to fully automate processes.

Read the announcement: APWA Webinar: Asset Management Past, Present, and Future: What’s Next? (Image courtesy of Massachusetts DOT.)

Researchers for Virginia DOT investigated the reasons for premature failure of concrete patches on continuously reinforced concrete pavement. Testing revealed that the use of high early strength mixes with high cement contents and failure to assess the overall pavement condition were the most frequent causes of early patch failure. The study recommended revisions to VDOT’s concrete patching procedures.

Read the research report: Premature Failure of Concrete Patching: Reasons and Resolutions, March 2019.

Vermont Agency of Transportation recently tested a lower-cost pavement maintenance approach, repaving a 40-inch-wide area along the right wheel path in each direction of a deteriorated roadway rather than repaving the entire surface. The treatment was successful, reducing rutting and cracking and extending the pavement’s service life.

Read the research report: Assessment of the 40″ Wide Paving Skid Box for Preventative Maintenance, December 2018.

The Transportation Research Board will conduct a webinar about the applications of continuous pavement deflection technology on Thursday, May 30, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The ability to collect information on pavement structural capacity at traffic speeds is changing how agencies evaluate their pavement needs. This webinar will explore how agencies can conduct pavement assessments effectively and will compare continuous deflection to traditional methods of assessing pavements.

Read the announcement: TRB Webinar: Continuous Deflection for Comprehensive Pavement Assessment.

(Image courtesy of FHWA.)