IMPLEMENTATION OF SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS IN ALBERTA
SINCE 1959 ALBERTA HAS BEEN EMPLOYING THE BENKELMAN BEAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF SELECTING THE OPTIMUM AND MINIMUM TIMES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROGRAM THE PROVINCE IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE ZONES. THESE ZONES EACH CONTAIN APPROXIMATELY 35 TEST POINTS, SELECTED FORM AN EXAMINATION OF THE ACTUAL PAVEMENT CONDITION ON SECTIONS OF PAVED HIGHWAY WHOSE HISTORY SHOWED THEM TO BE OF WEAKER CONSTRUCTION. WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE CGRA STAGE I INVENTORY IN 1961 THESE WERE REVISED ON THE BASIS OF THE DEFLECTION PROFILES TAKEN OF THE ENTIRE PAVED HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION AND THESE POINTS FORM THE BASIS OF THE CONTINUING SPRING LOAD RESTRICTIONS. THESE ARE REVISED EACH SPRING IN THE LIGHT OF NEW CONSTRUCTION DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WITH THE CONTINUAL UPGRADING OF THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM IT IS FELT THAT THESE SECTIONS WILL BE PHASED OUT IN A 10 YEAR PERIOD. THE EMPHASIS WILL THEN BE SHIFTED TO THE TESTING AND PROTECTION OF THE PAVED PORTIONS OF THE SECONDARY HIGHWAY SYSTEM WHICH, ON THE BASIS OF ECONOMICS AND TRAFFIC DENSITY, WILL NOT BE BUILT TO THE DEFLECTION STANDARDS OF THE MAIN HIGHWAY SYSTEM. IN LINE WITH THIS PLAN, ALBERTA IS NOW ENDEAVORING TO CONSTRUCT AND UPGRADE THE MAIN TRUNK SYSTEM TO A BAN-FREE STANDARD AND THIS PORTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IS PREMISED ON THIS INTENT. /CGRA/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 19, 16 PP, 9 FIG, 3 REF
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 1966-4
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Benkelman beam; Deflection; Economics; Load limits; Pavement performance; Road construction; Test sections; Traffic density
- Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00225091
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: CANADIAN GOOD ROADS ASSOCIATION
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Sep 30 1994 12:00AM