Cost Savings Resulting from Optimum Material Selection

Abstract

This paper presents the forensic analysis undertaken on two rehabilitation projects toward highlighting the cost savings achieved by implementing the optimum rehabilitation option and material made from these studies. Without an in-depth understanding of the underlying problem, rehabilitation strategies and materials may result in poor performance at higher construction cost. Conducting forensic analyses can help to better identify the problems before selecting the optimum rehabilitation strategy or material. In other words, engineering judgment based on the result of forensic analyses can be used to make repair recommendations more cost effective while meeting the rising needs of maintenance. In this study, the first project was on the IH20 in the Atlanta district where ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and coring verification were used to determine the presence of deep asphalt patches in the existing pavement. The Atlanta district indicated that it provided a more accurate thickness estimate and reported a savings of $1 million by reducing the extent of milling and using the materials recommended from this study. The main concern in the original design was to mill deeper and use different materials because of the uncertain stripping and damage in the asphalt layers. The second project was on the IH10 in the Odessa district where the rehabilitation strategy proposed in the forensic study called for milling of the top layer only on the inside lane, as opposed to both lanes in the original plan. As a result, the Odessa district reported savings in excess of $1 million by significantly changing their original rehabilitation design options without milling the existing materials and using the recommended strategy and material.