Vrtis, Michael

The 2022 construction season at the MnROAD facility saw construction of 39 new and unique pavement test sections and the repairs of 6 existing test sections. These sections were planned and designed by the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) teams to address high-priority research needs. This report details development, design, and construction of each test section supporting the associated research studies developed by the teams. Individual study details are left to future reports generated by the individual research contracts and their respective NRRA teams. As a multi-state, pooled-fund program, the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) provides strategic implementation of pavement engineering solutions through cooperative research. For Phase II, NRRA focused on improving sustainability and resiliency of our national pavement system and studying and promoting intelligent construction technologies. Based on these goals, some test sections were rehabilitated to extend their life by recycling in-situ material and applying preventive maintenance techniques. Newly constructed tests sections used innovative materials such as plastic, rubber and fibers for asphalt pavements and alternative cementitious, alternative supplementary cementitious, and carbon injection for concrete pavements. Two test sections served perpetual pavement and wicking geotextile research projects. Both were designed and constructed as perpetual pavements one of them with a wicking geotextile on top of the subgrade for improving drainage and stiffness of road foundation and quantifying its long-term benefits. Six test sections were repaired using performance engineered mixes on the replacement panels and finished with diamond grinding to eliminate faulting.

The National Road Research Alliance (NRRA); a multi-state pooled-fund program; exists to provide strategic implementation of pavement engineering solutions through cooperative research. NRRA is led by an Executive Committee of state DOT partners; and supported by numerous agency and industry partner representatives. Members provide expertise to NRRA; from the selection of research topics; to communication; and implementation. NRRA consists of five project teams: Flexible; Rigid; Geotechnical; Preventive Maintenance; and Technology Transfer. The 2017 construction season at MnROAD saw construction of 35 new and unique pavement test sections. The sections; designed to address NRRA high-priority research topics; were conceived and planned by NRRA project teams. This report details development; design; and construction of each research project and the test sections supporting them. Individual study details are left to future reports generated by the individual research contracts and their respective teams.