RUTTING PAVEMENT REHABILITATION CAUSES AND CURES THE MEDICINE HAT CASE

The Trans-Canada Highway, through the City of Medicine Hat, Alberta, was experiencing severe rutting of the deep strength asphalt pavement. Rehabilitation of the pavement was initiated through a thorough study of the rutting phenomena. Rutting was developing through asphalt flow in the wheel tracks. Rutting exceeding 75 mm, measured from the top of the flowing asphalt to the bottom of the wheel track, was inventoried. Test pit sections showed virtually no deformation of the subgrade. Two types of pavement rehabilitation solutions were proposed. First, where asphalt flow had not yet begun, planing, then surface course repaving. Secondly, where asphalt flow was evident, complete removal of existing asphalt and reconstruction with one of: i) conventional asphalt concrete structure, ii) deep strength asphalt, or iii) Portland cement concrete (PPC) pavement. Design indicated two PCC solutions, 225 mm where little or no asphalt concrete remained after planing or 190 mm where a 75 to 100 mm mat of asphalt concrete would remain after planing. Life cycle costing was conducted on all solutions. The results indicated that PCC pavement would be economical for complete replacement. Factors contributing to this result are the two intersections at the top of steep (6%) grades which will continuously cause traffic, including a large percent of heavy turn movements at the intersections to provide access to the services along collector/distributor roads paralleling the highway. Asphalt surface repaving also included a revised asphalt specification including more fractured faces on the aggregate and a minimum sand equivalent. The construction was carried out through the summer of 1990 and was completed while sharing carriageways with existing traffic. Minimized detouring contributed to lower overall contract prices. Rehabilitation construction techniques were selected based on rut depth and asphalt mat thickness. The PCA technique for intersection reconstruction was used to maintain all traffic movements continuously at the intersections. The project was completed within schedule and on budget. The conclusion of this work is to identify that roadway geometry, traffic volume classification and available materials require some consideration along with economic factors in the selection of rehabilitation technique selection. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD Abstract no. 807788.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1895102286
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • OLSEN, H E
  • MACINTOSH, S
• Conference:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1991 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF CANADA, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, SEPTEMBER 15-19, 1991, VOLUME 1
• Publication Date: 1991

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: C21-C37

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bitumen; Bituminous mixtures; Concrete; Conferences; Deformation; Planing; Planing hulls; Resurfacing; Rutting
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00631539
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• ISBN: 1-895102-28-6
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 1 1993 12:00AM