Transtec was asked to perform a pavement feasibility study for 18 miles of I-90 in PennDOT Engineering District 1-0, slightly West of Erie to the Ohio State Line.
The roadway within these limits is composed of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) placed on marginal soils. The CRCP began failing early in its lifecycle and was overlaid with asphalt to provide a safe driving surface.
Transtec Results
Transtec performed numerous pavement designs using the AASHTO DARWin 3.1 and the AASHTO ME design software and provided four solutions with accompanying Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA). Transtec’s solutions were as follows: (1) CRCP patching and structural overlay, (2) Total Reconstruction, (3) Crack & Seat and structural overlay, (4) Rubblization and structural overlay. Transtec’s analysis showed that the fourth option, to rubblize and overlay was the most viable and posed the least risk from the poor soils. The district used Transtec’s study to program four major rehabilitation projects.
