Engineering Commons^™

Impacts Of The Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System, Jerry G. Pigman, Joseph D. Crabtree, Kenneth R. Agent, R. Clark Graves, John A. Deacon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Extended-Weight Coal Haul Road System, created by the Kentucky Legislature in 1986, consists of all roads which carry over 50,000 tons of coal in a calendar year. Trucks hauling coal on this system are authorized to exceed normal weight limits through the payment of an annual decal fee. A research study was initiated in July of 1992 to analyze the impacts of the extended-weight system.

Analyses in this report are based on the following: historical data on coal production and transportation: data from coal decal applications; interviews of legislators. transportation officials. coal company representatives. and coal trucking representatives: newspaper …

Analysis Of Traffic Accident Data In Kentucky (1990- 1994), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1990-1994. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of accidents were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky's procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents.

Another objective of this study was to provide data which can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan. County and city …

Best Practices For Commercial Vehicle Monitoring Facilities Design, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, R. Clark Graves, John E. Schmidt

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The great technological advances that were made over the last decade in monitoring traffic and the increased emphasis on highway safety for truck traffic have prompted a need to determine more effective ways to monitor and inspect truck traffic. Commercial Vehicle Monitoring (CVM) facilities provide the highway community with the means of supervising truck traffic. However, in an era with limited funds and space for roadway expansion. some consideration must be given to the types of facilities needed and the most efficient way to spend the available funds. Hence, a research study was initiated to determine the successful practices for …

Use Of Class Aa Concrete Modified With A High-Range Water Reducing Admixture In A Full-Depth Bridge Deck Slab Us 127, Lincoln County, David Q. Hunsucker, Michael D. Stone

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Because it is desirable for bridge deck concrete to be strong and durable, the Kentucky Department of Highways chose to use a high-range water reducer to modify the properties of a conventional Class AA concrete mixture to be placed in a full-depth concrete bridge deck on US 127 in Lincoln County. A high-range water reducer is a chemical admixture that when added to low-to-normal slump concrete produces a high slump to flowing concrete. The higher slump enhances placement properties in areas of closely spaced and congested reinforcing steel such as that encountered in the corners of a skewed bridge structure. …

1995 Safety Belt Usage Survey And Evaluation Of Effectiveness In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 1995 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 1995 survey documents the continuing results from enacting a statewide mandatory safety belt law in 1994. Data were collected at 100 sites and combined based on vehicle miles travelled for a given type of highway, rural or urban location, and county population category. Also included in this report is an analysis of accident records evaluating the effectiveness of safety belts.

The data show that the dramatic increase in usage rates after enactment of the statewide law has decreased a small …

Summary Of Results Of 1994 Field And Laboratory Evaluations Of Pavement Marking Materials, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes the results of data collected as part of the 1994 field and laboratory evaluations of pavement marking materials for the National Transportation Product Evaluation Program (NTPEP). The purpose of the NTPEP is to pool the professional and physical resources of the individual participating AASHTO member departments and to focus those resources to test materials of common interest in order to improve cost-effectiveness.

The type of testing performed under the NTPEP will provide information that will be used to evaluate the acceptability of materials and to compare the performance of similar materials. The NTPEP also provides industry with …

Pavement Distresses At Intersections, David Q. Hunsucker, Bobby W. Meade

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Asphaltic concrete pavements at intersections and their approaches, where traffic is required to stop and start, exhibit several types of distress. Among the more prominent forms of these distresses are deep rutting, pushing and shoving, and severe wash boarding. Prior research in this area has shown the leading causes of pavement failures at these locations are primarily materials related. Meaningful amounts of funds allocated for maintenance operations are exhausted each year to rehabilitate intersection pavements that have become safety hazards as a result of simple traffic action. Significant savings may be realized if intersections and their approaches are designed and …

Toward Determining Minimal/Optimal Transportation Department Resource Requirements: An Examination Of State Privatization Trends Among Selected States, Douglas J. Olberding

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this project was to conduct a preliminary analysis of employment and privatization trends in state transportation departments. This project involved a review of recent literature on public sector privatization efforts, an analysis of all state transportation departments in order to locate a sample of states with transportation system characteristics similar to those of Kentucky, and a survey of the sample states· to determine privatization trends in the functional areas of administration, maintenance, design, engineering, enforcement and safety, and construction.

The study finds that among transportation departments in the 14 sample states, average annual increases in private sector …

Ballast Size For Safe Working Conditions In Railroad Yards And Terminals In Kentucky, Jerry G. Rose

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

During the 1994 Regular Session of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, House Resolution No. 58 was introduced by Representative J. Dorsey Ridley on Monday, February 28. It basically directed the Transportation Cabinet "to identify the more appropriate grade of rock used as surface material in railroad beds and walkways" and that "any remedy proposed... be reported to the Legislative Research Commission no later than August 1, 1995." A copy of the Resolution is contained in Appendix A.

The issue was forwarded to the Transportation Cabinet and subsequently to the Kentucky Transportation Center …

Preliminary Evaluation, Artimis Reference Point Signs, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of the preliminary evaluation were to determine if the installation of reference signs at intervals more frequent than one-mile increments would improve the ability of emergency personnel to respond to incidents or accidents on the freeway system in the Cincinnati-northem Kentucky area. A short-term evaluation was conducted of white on blue and white on green reference signs on a three-mile section of 1-275 in Cincinnati. Based on field observations and supplemented with subjective opinions of emergency response personnel, the reference signs were determined to be a beneficial addition to the location information available to the driving public. The …

Cost Estimating And Forecasting For Highway Work In Kentucky [1995], James D. Stevens

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There is a need for better cost estimating and forecasting for highway work in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KRS45.245 grants the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation oversight of the biennial highway plan, including a review of all authorized highway project phases that exceed their estimates by 15%. In recent years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has suffered the loss of many resources necessary to produce good cost estimates.

Estimates developed using current methods are not sufficiently accurate to preclude cost overruns in excess of 15%. Since enactment of KRS45.245 (1 July 1992 263 overruns, totaling nearly $117 million, have been submitted …

A Life-Cycle Cost Analysis Program For Kentucky Pavements, Jack A. Harison, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the development of a life-cycle cost procedure and program for project-level pavements. Included in this report are the descriptions of the models that are included in the computer program. A traffic growth model is described along with performance models for asphaltic concrete pavements and Portland cement pavements. The program calculates when rehabilitation is predicted at all future dates during the design life or analysis period. Recommended overlay thicknesses are also given. Because maintenance costs for Kentucky are not available, maintenance is treated as an annual, per square- yard quantity. User costs, in the form of a delay …

Development Of An Alternate Methodology For Identifying Heavy/Coal Trucks And Calculating Esal’S/Axle And Axles/Truck, Jack A. Harison, David L. Allen, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Performance Of Shrinkage Compensating Bridge Deck Concrete (Class S) I-75, Kenton County, David Q. Hunsucker, Michael D. Stone

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Shrinkage Compensating Concrete (Class S) is made with an expansive cement in which the expansion, if restrained, induces compressive stresses that approximately offset tensile stresses induced during drying shrinkage, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing the occurrence of shrinkage cracking in concrete. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the construction and performance of the Shrinkage Compensating Concrete (Class S) and to compare these characteristics to previous Class S concrete data and to conventional Class AA bridge deck concrete. This report summarizes construction activities and provides final performance evaluations and recommendations relative to experimental decks and barrier walls constructed of …

Development Of A Safety Management System, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Safety Management System (SMS) is one of six management systems mandated by Section 1 034 of the 1991 lntermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). The overall goal of a SMS is to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes. lt is to be comprehensive in that it incorporates all public roads and all contributing factors associated with the driver, the vehicle, and the roadway. The objective of this study was to develop a procedure to implement a SMS for Kentucky. A recommended process is described. Agencies and organizations were identified which have a role or interest in traffic …

Equivalent Single Axleload Computer Program Enhancements, Jerry G. Pigman, David L. Allen, Jack A. Harison, Neil Tollner, David H. Cain

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of the study were to review and modify previously used Equivalent Single Axleload (ESAL) prediction procedures and to develop a more efficient procedure. As part of the effort to simplify the procedure, a subtask was undertaken to reduce the number of highway functional classes being used to process data for the ESAL estimation procedure. Another objective was to develop a more definitive and accurate method for reflecting the effects of coal or heavy truck movements. Results of this task were documented as Research Report KTC-95-6.

Analyses were performed and validated to reduce the twelve functional classes to six …

Performance Of Pyrament Cement Concrete In A Highway Bridge Deck, David Q. Hunsucker, Michael D. Stone

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Pyrament Blended Cement (PBC) is a high performance cement that was developed by Lone Star Industries. Concrete that is made with PBC is rapid setting, has high strength and low permeability. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet chose to use PBC concrete in a lull·depth bridge deck. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the construction and performance of a full-depth bridge deck constructed of PBC concrete and to compare the data obtained to historical construction and performance properties of conventional, Class AA bridge deck concrete. This report provides information relative to construction activities, materials properties, and a summary of the …

Roadway Related Tort Liability And Risk Management: 3rd Edition, Daniel S. Turner, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This training material has been prepared to address the tort liability problems faced by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky local governments. The workbook defines the problem by reviewing the national picture of growing numbers of suits and escalating financial losses from suits against highway agencies.

The workbook also sets out solutions, and reviews actions which can decrease the exposure of highway agencies to these suits. This risk management concept is emphasized throughout the workbook.

Field Performance Report On Pvc Pipe Campbell County, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents the installation and performance of PVC pipe installed on KY 9 in Campbell County. The pipe installed was Perma-Loc, manufactured by J-M Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Pipes appear to be performing well with the clean coarse sand backfill.lt is apparent the pipe is brittle at lower temperatures. and caution should be exercised during cold weather construction.

It is apparent that the contractor achieved substantial compaction around the haunches and the side of the pipe which is helping to reduce pipe deflection.

In July 1995, the pipes will have been installed for approximately two years. Minor changes in pipe …

Kentucky Traffic Accident Facts 1995 Report, Kentucky Transportation Center, Kentucky State Police

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Personal Computer (Pc) Program For Analysis Of Embankments With Tensile Elements, Mikhail E. Slepak, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

UKSLOPE is a comprehensive, PC-based, slope stability computer program that can be used to design and analyze reinforced and unreinforced earth structures. The computer program consists of two parts: limit equilibrium models and a computerized method for determining the spacing, length, Md number of tensile reinforcement elements. The design of reinforcement elements generally follows guidelines developed by the Tensar® Corporation. However, some modifications and improvements to the original methods have been made. The slope stability analysis portion of UKSLOPE is based partly on the original mainframe version. The following are the main features of the program:

• UKSLOPE is an extremely …

A User’S Guide For By Product And Discarded Material Utilization In Highway Construction And Maintenance, Kamyar C. Mahboub, David Q. Hunsucker

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report presents a user's guide for an expert decision-making system that utilizes findings of an extensive literature search and review conducted as part of this study. The literature search and review were conducted to determine current attitudes and document available technical data relative to the use of recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance activities. Specifically, the literature search focused upon the engineering, economic, and performance aspects of using recyclable and recoverable materials in highway construction and maintenance projects. The effort centered upon asphalt and Portland cement concrete pavement recycling, discarded tire recycling, reuse of paint removal …

Development Of Guidelines And Performance For Asphalt Concrete Containing Recycled Rubber, Kamyar C. Mahboub, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of implementation of the crumb rubber technology in Kentucky. The impetus for this study was provided by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (lSTEA).

This study included an overview of existing literature on the subject from an implementation point of view for Kentucky's conditions. Upon completion of this phase of the study, guidelines were developed by the KTC research team and were submitted to the Transportation Cabinet for field implementation of the crumb rubber modifier (CRM) technology in Kentucky. From the ease of implementation point of view, …

Evaluation Of Change Interval Treatments For Traffic Signals At High-Speed Intersections, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A large number of traffic accidents at signalized intersections on high-speed roadways occur during or just after the change interval. The green extension system (GES) has been used extensively in Kentucky as a method of alleviating the problem related to the dilemma zone. An alternate method of handling this problem involves warning drivers that the signal indication is about to change from green to red using advance warning flashers (AWF). The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate the alternative methods (GES or AWF) which can be used to lessen the problem associated with the dilemma zone which occurs …

Examination Of Concrete Cores From Lowe’S Store In Bowling Green, David L. Allen, L. John Fleckenstein

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center was requested by Mr. Tom Brock, Vice President of McWhorter and Company, Inc., to examine cores obtained from a PCC floor slab of a Lowe's store in Bowling Green, Kentucky. From a telephone conversation with Mr. Brock, is was our understanding that a large portion of the surface of the floor slab was scaling and becoming detached. This apparently involved approximately the top 118 inch of the slab.

Nine cores were delivered to our laboratories. They were obtained at the locations shown in the floor map included in Appendix A. Those nine cores are shown in …

Use Of Flowable Fill (Clsm) For Trench Backfill, Bobby W. Meade, David Q. Hunsucker, Michael D. Stone

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), commonly referred to as flowable fill, has been used for years as a trench backfill for utility repairs in Kentucky, and is now being used by the Kentucky Department of Highways (KDOH) on a limited basis. Flowable fill, when used as trench backfill, typically consists of natural sand, fly ash, cement, and water with a design compressive strength of 50 to 100 psi at 28 days. Flowable fill was used on two KDOH projects in 1991. One project was new construction in the widening and realignment of Breckinridge Lane in Louisville and the other was …

Analysis Of Motor Vehicle-Deer Accidents In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An analysis of motor vehicle-deer (deer) accidents for the five-year period of 1989 through 1993 was conducted. There was an average of about 2,800 deer accidents per year. This type of accident was generally not severe with almost 96 percent property-damage-only accidents. Trends were noted in time and date of the accidents. The highest percentage of deer accidents occurred between 6 and 10 pm and in November and December. The percentage of this type of accident was highest in western and northern Kentucky and lowest in southeastern and central Kentucky. The accident rate for this type of accident was highest …

Analysis Of Traffic Accident Data In Kentucky (1989-1993), Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report includes an analysis of traffic accident data in Kentucky for the years of 1989-1993. A primary objective of this study was to determine average accident statistics for Kentucky highways. Average and critical numbers and rates of accidents were calculated for various types of highways in rural and urban areas. These data can be used in Kentucky's procedure to identify locations that have abnormal rates or numbers of accidents.

Another objective of this study was to provide data which can be used in the preparation of the problem identification portion of Kentucky's Annual Highway Safety Plan. County and city …

1994 Safety Belt Usage Survey And Evaluation Of Effectiveness In Kentucky, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to establish 1994 safety belt and child safety seat usage rates in Kentucky. The 1994 survey documents the results from enacting a statewide mandatory safety belt law. Data were collected at 100 sites and combined based on vehicle miles travelled for a given type of highway, rural or urban location, and county population category. Also included in this report is an analysis of accident records evaluating the effectiveness of safety belts.

The data show that enactment of the statewide law had a dramatic effect on usage rates. The usage rate for drivers increased from …

Evaluation Of Edge Drains Headwalls And Outlets On Western Kentucky Parkway And Pennyrile Parkway, L. John Fleckenstein, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

On May 10, 1994, the Kentucky Transportation Center conducted a routine edge drain and outlet inspection on the Pennyrile Parkway in the vicinity of Milepost 23. The edge drains had been in service since 1992. Two edge drain outlets were inspected with a "Cues" pipeline inspection camera. One of the outlets was 85 percent blocked by rock and debris. District 2, operations personnel concerned with the findings requested that the Kentucky Transportation Center evaluate all 364 outlets on the project plus an additional 49 edge drain outlets that were being installed on the Western Kentucky Parkway.

This report documents the …