EXPERIENCE WITH GRAVEL SURFACE TREATMENT AT CONRAIL INTERMODAL TERMINALS

Increased growth in rail intermodalism has created a need for new or upgraded terminals. Construction costs for these terminals are high, and the largest cost item is the paving of the surface. Common practice in pavement design is to use asphaltic concrete or portland cement concrete. Another alternative is the use of an aggregate wearing course, which can reduce capital cost for paving by 40 percent. Conrail has constructed a number of new terminals, which have an aggregate surface, in the last 5 years. Initially there were problems in the terminals because of a lack of proper maintenance procedures. The main problems were the formation of ruts and potholes and dust. They had an adverse effect on the efficiency of terminal operations, and the dust was causing strained relationships with local communities. As solutions to these problems were achieved, standard maintenance procedures were established. These included a periodic application of a dust control agent, preferably calcium chloride, which not only provides effective dust control but also increases the stability of the aggregate. The other procedure is to replenish surface material to maintain a smooth riding surface. In some terminals, this material was a washed pea gravel that served as a surface cover.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/state-of-the-art/4/4-005.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/08926891
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in Transportation Research Board State-of-the-Art Report 4, Facing the Challenge, The Intermodal Terminal of the Future, Conference on Intermodal Freight Terminal Design, New Orleans, Louisiana, March 2-5, 1986. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Carmody, J P
• Conference:
  • Facing the Challenge. The Intermodal Terminal of the Future
  • Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Date: 1986-3-2 to 1986-3-5
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 30-34
• Serial:
  • State-of-the-Art Report
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0892-6891

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Calcium chloride; Conferences; Construction; Costs; Dust control; Freight terminals; Gravel; Intermodal terminals; Maintenance; Potholes; Ruts (Pavements); Standards; Surface treating
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs; Rut
• Old TRIS Terms: Aggretate wearing course; Maintenance standards
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Finance; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Planning and Forecasting; Terminals and Facilities; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00472292
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 31 1987 12:00AM