Development and Implementation of a Performance-Related Specification for a Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement—I-39/90/94 Madison, Wisconsin

The primary objective of this study was to develop, implement, and evaluate a Level 1 performance-related specification (PRS) for the construction of a jointed plain concrete (JPC) pavement in the State of Wisconsin. The research entailed a thorough evaluation of the construction quality levels achieved on recent Wisconsin JPC projects and the formulation of a Level 1 PRS using the results of the quality evaluation and defined Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) pavement practices as a basis. The Level 1 PRS defined the sampling and testing requirements for four acceptance quality characteristics (AQCs)―thickness, strength, air content, and smoothness―and the corresponding performance-based pay factor curves for each AQC. The Level 1 PRS was included as an overriding special provision in the December 2005 letting of a JPC paving project located on I-39/90/94 near Madison, Wisconsin. Implementation of the PRS took place March through June 2006, corresponding to the mainline and tied-shoulder paving performed in both directions on this project. AQC measurements obtained from the I-39/90/94 project were used to compute PRS pay factors and establish pay adjustments for the contractor. High smoothness and strength levels achieved by the contractor coupled with more generous incentives for smoothness as compared to existing WisDOT specifications, resulted in significant incentives for the contractor under the PRS. Feedback from WisDOT and the contractor indicated that this first PRS implementation in Wisconsin was successful, particularly with respect to the layouts of lots and sublots. Several suggestions were received to improve and streamline the PRS process.

• Record URL:
  ftp://ftp.mdt.mt.gov/research/LIBRARY/TE278_2_R36_2007.PDF
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/39526
• Corporate Authors:

  Applied Research Associates, Incorporated

  505 West University Avenue
  Champaign, IL  United States  61820-3915

  Wisconsin Department of Transportation

  Division of Transportation System Development, 3502 Kinsman Boulevard
  Madison, WI  United States  53704-2507

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Rao, S P
  • Smith, K L
  • Darter, M I
• Publication Date: 2007-1-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 134p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air content; Concrete pavements; Construction; Contractors; Incentives; Joint construction; Pavements; Paving; Pay; Performance based specifications; Smoothness; Strength of materials; Thickness
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acceptance quality characteristics; Pay adjustments
• Geographic Terms: Madison (Wisconsin)
• Subject Areas: Construction; Highways; Pavements; I52: Construction of Pavements and Surfacings;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01044281
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: WI/SPR-01-06
• Contract Numbers: SPR # 1009-03-40
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 8 2007 6:19PM