NEW ALASKAN ROAD BEATS DRAINAGE PROBLEMS

The article describes the construction of a 53-mile road across tundra, in which pipes, geotextiles, and shotrock were used to resolve drainage problems. Specifications called for fill placement primarily during the winter so that construction equipment could be used on the tundra without damage to the insulating tundra mat. The need for culverts with seams strong enough to resist the forces of frost heave and differential permafrost settlement led to the selection of continuous welded-seam corrugated steel pipe. Research indicated that it performed as well as riveted heavy-gauge pipe, and could be manufactured quicker. A 200-man crew hauled 694 pieces of equipment to meet a 2000-ft per day schedule in constructing the road. Thaw pipe was installed inside the culverts to help prevent the build up of aufeis in the culverts during the winter. Geotextile was sewn into 25-ft wide panels and used over the entire alignment to prevent degradation of the tundra mat and provide separation between the fill and the tundra.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Publication Date: 1989-9

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 88-89
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue Number: 9
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Geotextiles; Permafrost; Pipe culverts; Road construction; Surface drainage; Tundra
• Geographic Terms: Arctic Regions
• Old TRIS Terms: Arctic area; Highway drainage
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488910
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1989 12:00AM