Capital Cost Comparison of Pavements Comprised of Insulation Layers: Case Study in Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

Using insulation layers is the go-to strategy for alleviating winter frost heave and subgrade weakening during spring thaw, but the cost effectiveness of using insulation layers compared to conventional methods needs to be evaluated. This study quantifies (in Canadian dollars) the capital cost for construction of roads comprised of insulation layers (bottom ash and polystyrene boards), along with substituting the subgrade material with high-quality granular base course (GBC) material based on a test road in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.