When county officials decided to place a 1.25 mile concrete overlay in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, it was with the understanding the pavement would last about 10 years. At 19 years, the pavement is still in service, which is remarkable considering it is only 4 inches thick through most of the section!
Kevin McMullen and Jackie Spoor of the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association (WCPA), along with Jerry Voigt, President & CEO-ACPA National, recently had an opportunity to inspect the pavement. Kevin attributes the overlay’s longevity to several factors. “It has good grade, the shoulders are in good condition and there’s no heaves or sign of collapsing, and there are really no changes in the overlay. It just keeps taking loads as it’s intended to do.”
Kevin credits Gary Kennedy, the County Commissioner at the time, for his efforts in providing accurate traffic counts—including truck traffic—and for supporting the decision to use concrete. The two-lane concrete overlay was placed on County Trunk Highway “R” (Rapids Road) from Menasha Avenue to Waldo Boulevard.
The fiber-reinforced concrete overlay was placed over
an existing asphalt overlay, which had been placed
on the original concrete highway.
The pavement runs through a residential area that has a few restaurants, with a Vinton plant at one end of the section. to pave the 14-ft sections (11 ft.-wide lanes and 3 ft. shoulders). Kevin credits communication between the contractor Vinton Construction Company and the county as an important factor in the success of the pavement:
• One lane was closed to traffic for construction
• One lane open to traffic at all times
• Paved sections were re-opened to traffic within 24 hours
• Paving project completed the paving in 3 days—2 days in one direction and 1 day in the other direction
• Endured with little to no maintenance over 18 years!
Pavement was the recipient of the “Gold Award” in the
2002 ACPA “Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards”
Now that it is 18 years old, the pavement is ready to be rehabilitated. “The pavement is fatigued,” Kevin said, adding that he is working with Marc Holsen, County Commissioner, who has been collecting pavement cores and soil borings, and covering the basics necessary to ensure the next pavement solution is a durable one.
Kevin said, “We’re working through details on designs and other recommendations.” While it’s too early to tell what the final solution will be, the aim is to provide a pavement solution that may exceed its design life.
Resource: www.acpa.org/22758-2/