Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/597582
November 2015 | EquipmentWorld.com 60 Federal Focus Typically, highway agencies have allowed a pavement's ride quality and structural condition to dete- riorate to fair-to-poor condition before taking steps to rehabili- tate. The aim of the rehabilitation is to repair structural damage and restore pavement conditions, a costly, time-consuming activity. The reasons behind this "worst- first" scenario, include federal-aid funding requirements and maxi- mizing capital growth, notes the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). If instead, the FHWA argues, agencies use low-cost preventive maintenance treat- ments, each lasting a few years, they can extend the pavement's service life, resulting in a better investment and ride quality. Current federal highway leg- islation specifically contains language detailing the signifi- cance of preservation practices, language continued in proposed U.S. House and Senate six-year surface transportation legislation this fall. SHRP2: Focus on High-Volume Federal research is focusing on test- ing and implementing high-volume road preservation treatments, in- cluding an ongoing SHRP2 project, R26: Preservation of High-Traffi c- Volume Roadways, a nine-year program now 90 percent complete, according to Thomas Van, FHWA pavement management engineer. Currently 13 states have R26 proj- road science | continued Photo: Tom Kuennen At the MnROAD pavement test facility, fi eld trip delegates examine performance of thin surfacing placed on I-94 and exposed to high-volume traffi c. MnROAD was fi rst constructed in 1994 and consists of a 3.5-mile portion of mainline interstate, 3.5-mile bypass roadway, and a 2.5-mile closed loop low-volume roadway.