Engineers at the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) are experimenting Spring 2018 with Precast Reinforced Concrete Pavement to improve its highways, KTBS reports, with the hope of drastically improving Louisiana highways in the future. The first experiment will be on the badly damaged eastbound on-ramp of I-20 west of the city of Shreveport. The I-20 on-ramp is located near multiple truck stops in the area and gets a lot of heavy traffic coming up from Houston onto I-20 east and westbound. It will be the first time the process has been used in Louisiana, but the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has had success with the process in other parts of the United States. It is a project that has the engineers at DOTD very excited and optimistic about what could happen in the years to come.
So why exactly did DOTD pick this specific on-ramp at exit 3 to try this experimental project? The two truckstops tell the story—one on one side of the road and one on the other side. Trucks are coming from everywhere, many driving up from Houston. This on-ramp gets a lot of heavy traffic coming up from Houston getting onto Interstate 20 east and westbound.
Suneel Vanikar P.E., Team Leader-FHWA told the news agency, “The speed of construction reflects into faster opening of the travel lanes—posing less danger to the construction crews. One of the biggest benefits is the minimization of user delay costs.”
DOTD says can be completely done over the course of a weekend. Removing pavement, 2 feet base rock layer, and placing precast reinforced concrete pavement. If successful, other projects are in mind for the future. Definitely more expensive, but lasts 10 times longer than asphalt. Will weigh benefits: Speed. Endurance. Cost. Longevity.
According to Erin Buchanan, DOTD, the eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 20 west of Shreveport will be the first to get the precast pavement, which is being cast in Grand Prairie, Texas. “A pro to that is that we are assured of the quality of the concrete before it ever gets here.”
The on-ramp can be completed in one weekend, including removing everything, laying down 2 feet of rock as a base, and putting the precast reinforced concrete in place. If successful, the process will be used in other places, such as Interstate 20 through Bossier City. That kind of speed has many thinking about another project that may now be possible if this one is successful.
“When you look at a project like I-20 through Bossier City, which is one that we get a lot of questions about … when are we going to see an improved Interstate 20 through Bossier? If this is something that the department deems workable for us for future projects, it really could transform how we’re able to get a project like that off the ground and truly get that ball rolling in terms of a traffic management standpoint. Because that’s a huge hurdle to cross when you’re talking about rebuilding that part of Interstate 20 through Bossier,” said Buchanan.
This experiment which has been done in many other states is expected to cost about $2.8 million dollars, most of which will come from the federal government in the form of demonstration money, which allows states to see how it works for them and consider using the process in the future. The precast pavement is more expensive than repairing the on-ramp with hot-mix asphalt, which has been done in the past, but speed of construction and endurance of the pavement need to be considered as well. And, that’s what they have to weigh. Speed, endurance, cost … there’s a lot to consider.
After the project is finished, the DOTD plans to monitor the on-ramp for about a year to determine if it’s something the state should invest its tax dollars in for future projects. “The great thing about it, is how fast it will happen. So when those panels are shipped in from Grand Prarie, Texas … you’ll see a new on-ramp overnight,” said Buchanan.
To read the article titled “La. experiments with precast reinforced concrete pavement for first time”, please go to: https://www.equipmentworld.com/louisiana-experiments-with-precast-reinforced-concrete-pavement-for-first-time/
To read an additional article titled “Louisiana to Test precast reinforced concrete pavement on I-20 on-ramp”, please to: https://www.roadsbridges.com/louisiana-test-precast-reinforced-concrete-pavement-i-20-ramp
VIDEO and Link to “Precast Concrete Could Change LA Highways”: https://www.ktbs.com/news/arklatex-indepth/precast-concrete-could-change-la-highways/article_3223f794-0dea-11e8-92ed-e3b91fb74610.html