King County Road Services - Concrete Road Preservation Pilot Project
Project overviewDuring the summer of 2009, a five-block section of Avondale Road N.E. between N.E. 146th St. and N.E. 151st St. was repaired and resurfaced in a pilot project to test ways to refurbish the roadway. The repairs consisted of replacing broken concrete panels, repairs to joints where panels meet and planing the existing roadway surface smooth. In researching different methods for planing the surface we found a planing method (Next Generation Concrete Surface grinding) that could have the added benefit of reducing tire noise. Given this potential added benefit to the repairs to Avondale Road N.E., Road Services used Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) grinding as part of the pilot project. NGCS grinding involves texturing the surface of an existing concrete road in a manner that is designed to reduce noise levels while enabling vehicle tires to keep their grip on the road surface. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was interested in this new method of surface grinding as well and partnered with Road Services to test the noise levels on the road before and after the NGCS grinding work was completed. On-board sound intensity (OBSI) noise tests performed on the road showed a significant reduction in tire and pavement noise. WSDOT will continue testing this section of road, with the next testing occurring in the summer of 2011. The test period for this pilot project will conclude in the summer of 2016. This is to ensure that the repair methods are viable and are the most cost effective means to preserve this roadway in the future. Project photos
Contact informationHave questions about the Concrete Road Preservation Pilot Project? Please contact: Rick Brater, Engineering Services Section Manager
Road Services Division
Engineering Services Section
201 South Jackson St.
MS KSC-TR-0231
Seattle, WA 98104-3856
206-296-6520
206-296-0567 (fax)
|
