FHWA Report Examines Concrete Pavement Preservation Strategies May 28, 2019 - 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.
Improved Life-Cycle Cost Analysis for Bridge Management Systems May 23, 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.)
APWA Webinar: What’s Next in Asset Management May 21, 2019 - 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.)
Virginia Examines Premature Concrete Patch Failure May 16, 2019 - 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 Extends Pavement Service Life With Wheel Path Repairs May 14, 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.
TRB Webinar: Continuous Deflection for Comprehensive Pavement Assessment May 9, 2019 - 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.)
Maintenance Papers from 2019 TRB Meeting May 7, 2019 - No Boundaries has published a listing of selected papers related to maintenance from the 2019 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. The compendium includes paper titles, authors, paper numbers, and links to the full-text documents. Note: TRB requires a login to access full papers. If you are having trouble accessing the papers, check with your DOT or other transportation library.
Download the compendium: 2019 TRB Annual Meeting: Papers Related to Maintenance.
Minnesota Develops Gravel Road Management Tool May 2, 2019 - Researchers for Minnesota DOT and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board have developed a spreadsheet tool to help local agencies effectively track and manage gravel roads. Designed to be flexible and customizable, the tool can be used to keep all maintenance and construction data about a gravel road system, as well as track costs.
See the project page: Gravel Road Management Tool, March 2019.
Ohio Evaluates Maintenance Procedures for Hard Shoulder Running April 30, 2019 - Ohio DOT is exploring using hard shoulders as additional traffic lanes to ease rush-hour congestion. Researchers evaluated procedures and equipment that would keep the shoulder clear of debris, assessing cost per mile, operating speeds, safety protocols, and operation during inclement weather.
Read the research report: Evaluation of Maintenance Procedures for Hard Shoulder Running, Phase 1, March 2019.
Minnesota DOT Investigates New Work Zone Intrusion Alarm System April 25, 2019 - The capabilities of a new work zone intrusion alarm system—Advance Warning and Risk Evasion (AWARE)—were recently demonstrated during a Minnesota paving project. The portable radar-based technology detects and tracks potential vehicle intrusion threats and worker locations to warn both workers and errant drivers. MnDOT gained insights about the technology, and the developer is continuing to field-test and refine the system.
Read the project summary: Personal Warning Sensor for Road Construction Workers, February 2019.