FARM-MARKET ROADS WIDENED AT LOW COST PER MILE

OLD SINGLE-LANE FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS IN FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND, ARE BEING WIDENED AT AS LITTLE AS ONE-SIXTH THE COST OF FULLY MEETING STATE-AID DESIGN STANDARDS. A DESIGN ADEQUATE FOR THE TRAFFIC COUNTS, WITH 20-FOOT PAVED WIDTH AND MAKE-DO SHOULDER AND DITCH WIDTHS, COSTS ABOUT $25,000 PER MILE AS COMPARED TO $150,000 PER MILE FOR 24-FOOT WIDTHS. CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR SUCH WIDENING HAVE INCLUDED MINOR EASING OF CURVES AND CUTTING DOWN OF SHARP SUMMITS. THE CONTRACTOR TYPICALLY BEGINS BY TRENCHING DOWN FOR THE WIDENING, CUTTING A TRENCH SIX INCHES DEEP BY 4--4.5 FEET WIDE ALONG THE EDGE OF THE EXISTING PAVEMENT. THE TRENCH BOTTOM IS ROLLED, THE EDGE OF THE EXISTING MAT IS GIVEN A TACK COAT, AND A SIDE DELIVERY TYPE WIDENING MACHINE IS USED TO PLACE BITUMINOUS MIX IN THE TRENCH. THE BEST JOB IS OBTAINED BY PLACING A TWO-INCH BITUMINOUS CONCRETE OVERLAY OVER THE EXISTING ROAD AND THE WIDENED SECTION.

• Publication Date: 1972-8

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 44-5
• Serial:
  • Rural and Urban Roads
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 8

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Construction; Contracts; Costs; Design standards; Overlays (Pavements); Pavement widening; Pavements; Paving; Roads; Rural highways; Secondary roads; State aid; Trenching; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Construction costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Pavement width
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Finance; Highways; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00215552
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1972 12:00AM