Concrete Pavement Technology Update

August 2008

FHWA Cooperative Agreements to Advance Concrete Pavement Technologies

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently entered into three cooperative agreements with outside agencies to advance concrete pavement design and construction technologies in support of the Concrete Pavement Technology Program (CPTP). Each agreement provides an initial year of funding with up to four additional years at FHWA’s discretion and available funding.

Technology Transfer of Best Practices for Concrete and Concrete Pavements (American Concrete Institute). This agreement will provide education and training activities for FHWA’s customers and partners. Deliverables include—

• Training materials for seminars, workshops, and conferences, including a training syllabus and related materials needed by State departments of transportation (DOTs) to prepare their inspectors for the ACI Transportation Inspector Certification test; and updates of materials used in FHWA-sponsored seminars.
• Seminars and related training activities for State DOTs, FHWA’s field offices, and members of the concrete industry.
• Conferences for the highway community, including the coordination of a process for FHWA’s participation in and funding of up to three conferences per year.

Advancement of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) Through Technology Transfer and Delivery of Industry Guidance for Design and Engineering (Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute). Products of the ongoing FHWA CPTP include technical guides addressing the design, construction, and repair and rehabilitation of CRCP that are available for review and implementation by highway agencies. FHWA found that new efforts are needed to create, across the entire pavement community, a national awareness of and a willingness to accept CRCP as a proven pavement technology. The agreement provides for an advisory Expert Task Group (ETG) of pavement community representatives. Deliverables include—

• A strategy for technology transfer of CRCP guidance, including a national communications plan to develop a shared sense of purpose among all of FHWA’s partners and customers in the States, the concrete pavement industry, and related supplier groups; and conferences, seminars, and workshops for those stakeholders.
• A strategy for assisting State DOTs in accepting and implementing industry guidance for design and engineering of CRCP. Working groups will meet with State DOTs and prepare lists of action items and a timeline for review and modification, as needed, of FHWA’s guidance documents.

Advancement of the Precast-Prestressed Concrete Pavement (PPCP) System Through Technology Transfer and Development of Industry Guidance for Design and Engineering (Precast-Prestressed Concrete Institute). This agreement will encourage timely acceptance and technically sound implementation of PPCP as a proven alternative pavement system. A strategic, national communications plan will be structured to gain the support of decision makers across all elements of the pavement community. Deliverables include—

• A strategy for technology transfer for the PPCP system in the agency/owner and industry communities, including preparation and distribution of informational flyers, videos, and technical reports. An ETG comprised of representatives from industry, State DOTs, and FHWA will advise the contractor.
• A strategy for industry guidance of design and engineering of the PPCP system, including organization of program activities among agency/owner and industry communities through technical committee meetings and related activities. FHWA anticipates that the Institute’s recently established Pavement Committee will play a key role in developing and disseminating PPCP guidance.

Article prepared by Ken McGhee, CPTP Implementation Team (kvmcghee3@aol.com).

National Conference on Preservation, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Concrete Pavements

April 22–24, 2009 —— St. Louis, Missouri

In today’s environment, where highway agency budgets cannot fully meet pavement management needs, it is important that the limited funds available be expended in an optimum manner—to extend the useful life of pavements at the least life-cycle cost.

Over the past two decades, there has been much progress in developing effective preservation, repair, and rehabilitation (PRR) techniques. However, many gaps remain, and many practices are not implemented consistently from one region to another. This conference will gather information from around the country to close those gaps.

The conference program will present best practices in the use and timing of various PRR treatments to extend the structural capacity and functional characteristics of concrete pavements. In peer-reviewed papers and invited presentations, the program will address evaluation of concrete pavement condition and new advances in PRR technology. Case studies from highway agencies and industry will be highlighted.

The conference will explore closely related topics such as sustainability, accelerated construction, alternative contracting methods, remaining service life and economic tradeoffs, forensic investigations, mitigation of materials-related distresses, and the latest equipment, materials, and testing methods.

Details on paper submission, program, and venue are posted at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/concrete/2009cptpconf.cfm and updated periodically.

For more information, contact Shiraz Tayabji (stayabji@aol.com; 410-997-9020).

More Information

• CPTP Focus Areas
• CPTP Products
• CPTP Projects
• Pavement Publications

Contact

Sam Tyson
Office of Asset Management, Pavement, and Construction
202-366-1326
E-mail Sam