This issue of CONCRETE PAVEMENT PROGRESS showcases the winners of the gold-level "Excellence in Concrete Pavement Awards" presented by the American Concrete Pavement Association.

The project descriptions below highlight some of the outstanding workmanship and other fine points associated with placing and rehabilitating pavements.

Department Saves Time, Money Through Innovation ... Keeping traffic moving was of particular importance for upgrading the existing 40-year-old pavement on U.S. 1/64 in Cary, N.C. Commuters were already faced with frequent traffic back-ups due to the pavement’s deterioration. So ensuring this project’s smooth and on-time completion was essential.

The North Carolina DOT, with contractor Lane Construction Corporation, used design-build and aggressive phasing to make the reconstruction of the original four-lane segment and addition of two lanes a smooth process. The DOT used this project as an opportunity to try a number of industry innovations.

The U-31-1 C&D—I-64 Reconstruction marked the first time the agency specified the use of a Shilstone mix design and used the maturity method for the first time. These innovations saved the DOT time and money, while supporting 90,000 motorists per day without a detour route.

ACPA recognized (contractor) Lane Construction Corporation; (owner) the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Resident Engineer’s Office; and the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Pavement Management Unit with its Gold: Divided Highways-Urban award.

Testing Site to Highlight Overlay Solutions ... A segment of Route I-86 in the towns of Olean and Hinsdale in Cattaruargus County, N.Y., will be the site for testing aimed at identifying the most economical and long-term-performing concrete pavement reconstruction techniques.

Over the next six years, the state will monitor different test sections of different longitudinal and transverse joint designs using sensors in each of three concrete overlay test sections.

The 9-in. concrete pavement was prepared using three different methods. They were rubblization; crack and seat; and no treatment.

The results will be incorporated into the New York calibration efforts of the new AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide.

Overcoming weather-related challenges, modifications to the sensor and joint placement plan, and taking care not to disturb the sensors and joints would not have been possible without close coordination.

Comprehensive Concrete Plan Removes Aging Asphalt ... The reconstruction of this busy trucking route required comprehensive planning, design, and construction efforts to place a concrete overlay on this aging, highly rutted, high maintenance asphalt road.

Major challenges included devising a one-way traffic plan and adequate haul routes to limit inconvenience to motorists and truckers, as well as correcting the transverse and longitudinal profile and wheel rutting on the existing asphalt pavement.

The location of the project also posed difficulties. To address these challenges, contractor Castle Rock Construction Company completed in-depth monitoring and surveying on the existing asphalt pavement to develop the most effective and

ACPA presented the Gold: State Roads award to (contractor) Castle Rock Construction Company of Colorado and (owner/engineer) Colorado Department of Transportation for Project No. HB 0405-024 on State Highway 40 in Wildhorse, Cheyenne City, Colo.

Coordination Helps Contractor Overcome Unexpected Challenges ... The project team overcame a number of unforeseen challenges to restore this 52 lane-mile, high-traffic corridor in Bullitt County, Ky.

Anticipated hurdles included a typically strict time schedule and incentives/disincentives, but the area also suffered from record precipitation and unprecedented tornados and flash floods. Additionally, unexpected repairs and patch removal resulted in project delays. 

Still, the contractor and subcontractors coordinated nightly work areas with multiple grinders to get the restoration done at a fast pace with high-quality production.

Thorough Planning Provides Long-Life Expectancy ... The asphalt overlay on a segment of Interstate-35 in Love County, Okla.—the main route from Oklahoma City to Dallas—was failing under steadily increasing traffic. The Oklahoma DOT needed a solution to address the problem. Thanks to thorough planning and the contractor's past experience with concrete pavement, this rural divided highway now has a 35 to 50 year life expectancy and excellent ride quality.

Limiting inconvenience to motorists was a top priority for municipal road projects this year.

Concrete Applications Accommodate Crosstown Traffic ... Replacing the existing pavement – a concrete base topped with a failing asphalt overlay – with new concrete pavement on the Route 7 Crosstown Arterial Reconstruction and Resurfacing project was no easy task.

Maintaining traffic flow was a priority on this heavily-commuted cross-town arterial, which also is bordered by a large number of businesses.

The New York State DOT’s Region 1 selected high early strength concrete, in lieu of an asphalt design, to expedite opening to traffic.

This project also was the agency’s largest road application of precast concrete slabs, requiring additional innovation in scheduling to accommodate all the different phases.

The project team overcame these challenges to complete the pavement on time, providing the owner, motorists, and local businesses depending on this route with the benefits of less maintenance and a longer service life.

Close Planning Minimizes Disruption, Maximizes Aesthetics ... The reconstruction of Broadway from 16th to 20th Avenues in Denver, Colo., represents how projects can be completed in a busy city setting with minimal disruption to the multiple residents, businesses, and culture within the project’s limits.

It was beyond time to completely replace the existing aging, high-maintenance asphalt with an 11-in. concrete pavement. This project required a comprehensive planning, design, and construction effort for achieving this on one of the busiest arterials in the City and County of Denver, Colo., the project’s owner.

Smooth Surface Provides Better Access to Tourist Spot ... The construction on Merle Wolfe Road was the first of three contracts to rebuild an existing narrow two-lane link between a fast-developing tourist attraction and the Interstate.

The contractor used innovative planning to consolidate this project into two phases of concrete paving instead of three.

A high number of curves and ramp connections also made this a challenging project to pave. The contractor identified the benefits of using innovative technology, a Global Positioning System,

to fine grade and trim all the curves, supers, transitions, and straight-aways on the project. This resulted in a better concrete yield than expected and saved time by not having to place stringline. Despite the difficulty of working with so many curves and ramp connections, the pavement still achieved an excellent smoothness of 1.85 inches per mile.

ACPA recognized this as the Gold Winner: County Roads, presented to (contractor) Duit Construction Company, Inc.; (owner) Oklahoma Department of Transportation; and (engineer) Chiang, Patel & Yerby, Inc.

Choosing concrete for reconstruction and multiple-phase projects saved time and money, as well as added aesthetic effects to these airfield projects.

Military Awards Top Honors to Runway Reconstruction ... The contractor earned top honors from the United States Air Force for the reconstruction of the Primary Taxiway and East Apron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., due to innovative phasing and extra aesthetic work.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Hi-Way Paving, Inc. the rare and prestigious 1st Civil Engineer Squadron Coin for outstanding performance and timely completion on this project. The contractor initiated and implemented a rephrasing plan to complete the project at this high-profile military facility with a high-quality concrete pavement.

The plan eliminated two phases of work, allowing the contractor to complete the work under a nonnegotiable 60-day timeframe.

The contractor also worked closely with the Corps of Engineers and the Air Force, using a fast-track approach, to construct an additional 30,000 sq. yds. of apron area within the project schedule, a key reason for the overall success of the project.

The 17.8" taxiway pavement and 17" apron pavement constructed on this project are of
the highest quality and appearance, and all pavements met or exceeded contractual specifications.

Concrete Option Fits Multiple Operations ... The contracting team convinced the design engineer and owner to rethink their existing asphalt plan for this project in favor of concrete. The multi-phase project included demolition, drainage improvements, and grading operations to remove existing asphalt, repair cracks, and level the course.

The project team took advantage of ideal temperatures in northern Oklahoma to pour an overlay and set up longitudinal construction joints. The project team pre-tested all aggregates for potential alkali silica reactivity and petrographic analysis for approved use. The final product was a safe, high-performing runway that earned high marks from the owner.

ACPA recognized this project as the Gold Winner: Reliever & General Aviation Airports, presented to (contractor) TTK Construction Company, Inc.; (owner) City of Enid, Oklahoma; and (engineer) LBR, Inc. for the reprofile, narrow, overlay, mark, and light of Runway 17/35 and the reconstruction of the connecting taxiways at Enid Woodring Regional Airport in Enid, Okla.

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION Magazine Now Available Online ... SURFACE TRANSPORTATION magazine, ACPA's official publication for executive-level transportation officials; federal, state, and local lawmakers; industry officials and others in the