The immediate goal of the HPCP Program is to construct some selected highway projects to explore the applicability of innovative concrete pavement design and construction concepts in the United States. The long-range goal is improvement of portland cement concrete pavement design, materials, and construction technology and equipment through innovation, research, training, and evaluation of promising pavement technology developments m other countries.

Background
In May 1992, a team of State, industry, and Federal engineers from the U.S. participated in the U.S. Tour of European Concrete Highways (US TECH). Their mission was to review the European concrete pavement experience and obtain information relating to finance, research, design, construction, maintenance, and performance to assist with the development of appropriate actions for enhancing the U.S. highway system. The follow-up visits (October 1992) to Germany and Austria obtained sufficient information to construct an experimental section using German pavement structural design to extend the pavement's service life and the Austrian exposed aggregate surface treatment technique to reduce tire/pavement noise and to provide a more durable wearing surface.

In 1993, a 1.6 km (1-mile) test section was constructed on northbound I-75 (Chrysler Freeway) in downtown Detroit, Michigan. The design and construction procedures of the experimental pavement section were similar to those used in Germany and Austria. Michigan's standard pavement section was used on an adjacent portion of northbound I-75 for comparison purposes. These sections will be monitored for five years and annual evaluation reports will be prepared.

Broad, functional or performance criteria have been established, rather than a prescription-oriented definition such as done with HPC-Structures. Each State Highway Agency (SHA) can choose the criteria considered appropriate for improving the performance of their concrete pavements. The suggested innovation areas for this program included:

• Increasing the service life
• Decreasing construction time (by 40-50%)
• Lowering life cycle costs
• Lowering maintenance costs (by 40-50%)
• Constructing ultra-smooth ride quality pavements
• Incorporating recycled or waste products while maintaining quality
• Utilizing innovative construction equipment or procedures
• Utilizing innovative quality initiatives

SHAs should utilize this list in formulating HPCP projects instead of prescribed engineering criteria established from the outside which may discourage innovation. Planned projects could then be modified to incorporate some of the innovation areas listed above.

The HPCP implementation plan was the restructured by identifying specific types of projects and soliciting specific States. Target areas included: joint sealing alternatives and alternate load transfer devices; the use of more durable concrete mix designs and surface finishing techniques, and more cost effective materials utilization such as widened lanes, trapezoidal cross sections and two-lift construction.

twelve projects were received for consideration under the HCPC program for fiscal year 1996. Nine projects were approved for funding. Five projects were split funded between FY 96 and FY 97.

State	Project Description
SD	Construction and evaluation of thin pavement constructed from PCC reinforced with 50mm x 0.64mm polyolefin fibers.
IA	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using 60% coarse / 40% fines, varying mix times, and/or using a new type of concrete mixer.
WI	Construction and evaluation of supplemental sections using alternate dowel bar materials and dowel bar spacings and/or alternate cross sections.
WI	PCC Surface texture Issues (noise, safety, ride, and durability)
IL	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using fiber composite dowel bars and installing traffic classifiers and associate equipment.
OH	Evaluation of PCC pavement performance using various sealant types or no sealants.
OH	Evaluation of the use of ground granulated blast furnace slag in concrete pavement.
OH	Construction and evaluation of PCC pavement using alternate dowel bar materials and dowel bar spacing.
KS	Evaluation of mix designs with recycled asphalt and two lift construction. Evaluation of corrosion resistant dowels. A total of 12 sections were constructed.
Projects that have been approved for the remainder of FY 97 funding (about $1 million) include the following:
IN	Support for Sixth International Purdue Conference on Concrete Pavement Design and Materials for High performance, November 1997.
IA	Evaluation of Alternate Dowel Bar Materials.
NH	Definition of High Performance Concrete Pavements to integrate structural design options with material quality variables (Develop plans for demonstration project).
MO	Fiber Reinforced Concrete Pavement (split funded FY 97 and future FY 98 when available)

Construction of the candidate projects, once approved, are handled in accordance with existing federal-aid procedures. Evaluation of the projects are conducted by work orders with the various State agencies.

Future Plans
Plans for the future include an effort to more precisely define high performance concrete pavements (material requirements and structural or design feature options). It is planned to solicit additional States to construct projects meeting the new definition and refined criteria. It is likely that the current effort will be expanded to include additional pavement types such as continuously reinforced concrete pavements. Plans for FY 98 and beyond will depend upon Congressional action to extend or modify existing ISTEA provisions.

Telephone and onsite assistance, speakers, and mobile laboratory.

Report on the 1992 U.S. Tour of European Concrete Highways, 1992, and Summary Report of Followup Tour of Germany and Austria, 1993. Both reports are available through the Office of Technology Applications. A videotape on the Michigan project is available from the Office of Technology Applications.

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HIGHWAYTECHNET   VIRTUAL EXPO   PAVEMENTS INDEX

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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration