Search Content

Contents of this Transportation Research Synthesis include: typical Minnesota winter maintenance methods; winter maintenance cost; ultra-thin bonded wearing course (UTBWC) winter maintenance; Minnesota experience with UTBWC; other states experience with UTBWC; and winter maintenance cost comparison of roadway sections with and without UTBWC.

Wood products have been used as a lightweight fill in roadway embankments in the past, primarily in situations where slope stability was a concern. The U.S. Forest Service reported [1] on the use of sawdust and bark chips as a lightweight fill in slide areas. That report indicated that sawdust was commonly used as a lightweight fill, or to provide support over soft soils near sawmills in the United States, Canada, and Norway. No information, however, is available regarding the use of wood chips as a lightweight fill for embankments floated over peat swamps. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) conducted an experiment with such a construction technique in 1976 on T.H. No. 53 in Koochiching County. [2,3] The trees used for manufacture of the chips were primarily aspen with the common name of poplar. Long-term durability of the wood chips was a significant concern regarding their use as a fill material for roadway embankments. Nineteen years after the placement of the wood chips for the T.H. No. 53 project, no settlement problems have been reported. The maintenance history of the roadway where the wood chips were used in the embankment was not any different than the rest of the project. The fact that the roadway embankment did not show any noticeable settlement over 19 years indicates that the chips are capable of providing long term support. Based on the performance of the widenings, Mn/DOT decided to sample the chips at several locations to determine their condition. Two test sections, the wood chip working platform and the wood chip embankment, were selected for sampling. This report is unpublished. 15 copies were produced and distributed.

The purpose of this Transportation Research Synthesis (TRS) was to summarize current seal coat practices and identify alternatives that provide pavement protection, extend pavement life similar to chip seals, and avoid the identified problems. Other surface treatment techniques used around the country include fog seals, bio seals, sand seals, sandwich seals, slurry seals, and micro surfacing and include many proprietary or brand name products.

The objective of this Transportation Research Synthesis was to investigate ultra-thin bonded wearing course (UTBWC) snow, ice, and wind effect through performing a literature review and conducting interviews and information solicitations regarding experience with ice and snow control on UTBWC pavements.

Significant improvements have been made in base stabilization practice that include design specifications and methodology, experience with the selection of stabilizing additives, and equipment for distribution and uniform blending of additives. For the rehabilitation of existing pavements the stabilization of base material has delivered performance as good as or better than reconstruction at a reduced cost. Many additive products exist to stabilize base materials for roadway construction, but it is not always clear which additive is the right one to use. This guidebook intends to focus on stabilization for new construction and Stabilized Full Depth Reclamation (SFDR) and to help with the selection of suitable nonproprietary stabilization additives for individual specific project(s).