A 24-page report from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) spotlights the use of precast concrete pavement along a section of I-90 near Issaquah, Washington, USA (about 20 miles east of downtown Seattle, WA.). The project was made possible by an Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies (AID-PT)* (PDF) grant of $1,000,000 by FHWA to support the precast concrete pavement (PCP) test project. This case study report provides details of the PCP implementation by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to rehabilitate the distressed pavement along the eastbound lanes of I-90 near Issaquah.
The illustrated report provides an overview of the project, details of the contracted work, and the requirements of the PCP panels. It also describes the fabrication of the panels, and the steps used to place the panels. It was an important first step in the implementation of PCP by the WSDOT, the report says. To prepare for the project, the DOT participated in FHWA-sponsored workshops on “PCP Best Practices”, developed a provisional PCP spec, participated in an expert task group on PCP implementation, and along with the contractor and precaster staff, participated in just-in-time training.
ABSTRACT: Repair and rehabilitation of the aging highway infrastructure continues to be a challenging endeavor for all U.S. highway agencies. Thousands of miles of highway pavements need rehabilitation, and many of these highways carry over 100,000 vehicles/day, including a large percentage of trucks. Extended lane closures must be avoided to prevent compounding congestion—which means rehabilitation work must be completed rapidly. While many projects have been completed using rapid-setting concrete, results have been inconsistent. PCPs have been shown to be promising alternatives. The production use of PCP has come a long way over the last 17 years. The technology is gaining wider acceptance in the U.S. for rapid repair and rehabilitation of concrete pavements as well as for heavily traf cked asphalt concrete pavements and intersections. Several U.S. highway agencies have implemented the PCP technology, and other agencies have constructed demonstration projects. In the U.S., the PCP technology is being used for intermittent repairs (full-depth joint repairs or full panel replacement) and for continuous applications (longer length/wider area rehabilitation) with service life expectations of at least 20 years for intermittent repairs and at least 40 years for continuous applications, without significant future corrective treatment.
The Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP2) Project R05 was conducted from 2008 to 2012 to develop technical information and guidelines that would encourage the rapid and successful adoption of PCP technology. Since 2013, the FHWA in partnership with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has been supporting transportation agencies with implementation of PCP. During 2017, the WSDOT was awarded a grant of $1,000,000 under FHWA’s AID Program to help offset the cost of constructing a PCP project.
This case study report provides details of the 2019 PCP use for rehabilitation of the distressed eastbound concrete pavement along sections of I-90 near Issaquah, Washington. WSDOT has a critical need to develop effective, longlasting concrete pavement rehabilitation tools that can be rapidly applied along sections of heavily-trafficked I-5 in the Seattle metropolitan area. The experience gained with the implementation of PCP along I-90 will guide WSDOT as to how use of PCP can be optimized for use along I-5 in the Seattle area.
To view/download the 24-page report, please go to: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/pubs/hif19026.pdf
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* AID-PT is a provision first included in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP 21). This ACPA-led initiative created both a mechanism and funding for the delivery of pavement technology. In 2015, Congress included the program in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which provides funding through 2020.
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