October 1, 2008
Examples of the geosynthetic materials used on the I-35W project. By Ron Bygness, and courtesy of Flatiron Corp., Maccaferri Inc., and MnDOT Construction of the Interstate-35W Bridge, which collapsed in catastrophic fashion on Aug. 1, 2007, was completed ahead of schedule, and reopened on Sept. 18, 2008. Geosynthetic materials of all types were used in …
June 1, 2008
Reinforcement and deformation monitoring of a railway embankment in France Compiled and edited by Ron Bygness Introduction This project was the first practical realization of the RAFAEL research project for the use of high-strength geosynthetics for base courses over cavities, including the first “intelligent” geosynthetic. This product combines the benefits of a high-strength geocomposite with …
Compiled and edited by Ron Bygness Hallstadt rail crossing An existing railroad crossing in the Hallstadt section of railroad track 5100, from Bamberg to Hof (Saale), had to remain open for rail traffic, but had to be replaced by an underpass for the street. An underpass for Michelin Street, under the railroad tracks, had to …
April 1, 2008
By Vincent Ho and Steven Chang Introduction Stretches of the Yi-Lan-I Road in Taiwan are located more than 3,200ft (1,000m) above sea level. It’s an important road that provides the primary access to the National Taipingshan Forest Recreation Area. But during a particularly rainy 75-day period (mid-July through September 2005), the region experienced abundant rainfall …
October 1, 2007
Introduction Development of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm required stability improvement to the subgrade of 26 miles of access roads to the locations of the farm’s wind turbines. A successful road design solution resulted following the installation of 463,000yds2 of geogrid. Project site The Maple Ridge Wind Farm near Lowville in upstate New York is …
August 1, 2007
By Lawrence Berkland, CPESC Introduction This project showcases the use of a geosynthetic drainage system as an outfall for a sediment pond, and the accompanying road realignment, both built in Steele County, Minn., in 2006. In this example, the land usage was primarily agricultural, the watershed approximately 90 acres, and the disturbed area about 5 …
Mission The purpose of Highways for LIFE is to advance Long-lasting highways using Innovative technologies and practices to accomplish Fast construction of Efficient and safe pavements and bridges, with the overall goal of improving the driving experience for America. HfL goals It’s a new way of doing business. Just as the construction of the U.S. …
February 1, 2007
From the 2006 International Achievement Awards for Geosynthetic Projects Introduction In an effort to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety conditions in northern San Diego, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is adding lanes and creating a truck bypass at the Interstate 5/805 junction. A unique portion of this project is the construction of a …
October 1, 2006
Selecting a smart and efficient road-maintenance strategy. By Jamie Swedberg, Ron Bygness, and C. Joel Sprague A study evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using paving fabrics in roadway maintenance projects is getting a new look. The original work was a comprehensive study of pavement repair materials and methods. It examined maintenance treatments on 370 roads in …
August 1, 2006
By Dov Leshchinsky Introduction The title of this article contains enough acronyms to confuse even the best engineers. Imagine the confusion when the abbreviations have to be translated into numbers followed by a structure. To alleviate some of the concern, here are the literal conversions: ASD=Allowable Stress Design (e.g., AASHTO 1998, 2002; or NCMA in …