Water in the pavement section is recognized as a major factor in pavement deterioration and early loss of pavement service life. In recent years, highway engineers have recognized the cost benefits of providing permeable bases to drain the pavement section. New aggregate gradations and stabilizing materials for base courses have been used to provide a balance between drainability and stability. Construction engineers have also developed new techniques for placing and compacting permeable base material.

This project was developed to help State highway agencies and industry partners become more familiar with new techniques in permeable base and edgedrain system design and construction for concrete pavements. This phase of the project will concentrate on the use of permeable bases with asphalt pavements and, as with concrete pavements under Phase I, it consists of a workshop that features a slide presentation, design manual, and field construction technical assistance.

This project is being expanded in an NHI course to include retrofit edgedrains and drainage of flexible pavement. In addition, a contract has been awarded to Applied Research Associates to develop a microcomputer program to calculate pavement subsurface drainage.

Workshop available on request (subject to long-range planning); equipment demonstration.

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HIGHWAYTECHNET   VIRTUAL EXPO   PAVEMENTS INDEX

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration