Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Lessons Learned System For Kentucky Transportation Projects, Paul M. Goodrum, Mohammed F. Yasin, Donn E. Hancher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A system of collecting, archiving, and disseminating lessons learned is a critical component of experienced-based processes, such as the design and construction of roadway and bridges. This report examines the development of a centralized, web-based Lessons Learned System for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The research developed a working prototype of a lessons learned system that functions off of centrally located databases making it easier to administer and update. The Lessons Learned System was designed to accept both text and attachments through file uploads while maintaining relationships between these items of information in terms of a lesson learned. The report describes …

The Use And Performance Of Geogrids In Kentucky, Aric Cowne, Richard Reitenour, David L. Allen, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report will investigate the history and usage of geogrids, a subfamily of geosynthetics, in Kentucky. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM - 1994) has defined a geosynthetic as a planar product manufactured from a polymeric material used with soil, rock, earth, or other geotechnical-related material as an integral part of a civil engineering project, structure, or system. Geogrids, geosynthetics primarily used for reinforcement, are formed by a regular network of tensile elements with apertures of sufficient size to interlock with surrounding fill material. Geogrids are used as reinforcement by adding tensile strength to a soil matrix, thereby …

Survey Of Welding Processes, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The current KYTC “SPECIAL PROVISION NO. 4 WELDING STEEL BRIDGES” prohibits the use of welding processes other than shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and submerged arc welding (SAW). Nationally, bridge welding is codified under ANSI/AASHTO/AWS D1.5M/D1.5:2002 Bridge Welding Code. That document allows the use of other welding processes including flux core arc welding, gas metal arc welding, electroslag welding and electrogas welding after passing qualification tests.

Both the KYTC Special Provision and the Bridge Welding Code were reviewed. Representatives from 14 state highway agencies, fabrication shops, universities and welding equipment firms were questioned regarding the wider use of the welding …

Highway Crash Site Management, Monica L. Barrett, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traveler delay is the problem most often associated with highway crashes, but by far the most serious problem is the resulting secondary crashes that occur. Another related issue is the danger posed to response personnel serving the public at the scene of a crash. The longer a crash is in place, the longer the responders are vulnerable and exposed to injury.

The Kentucky Transportation Center, in cooperation with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, developed a checklist and interagency workshop to address ways to secure and coordinate the resources necessary to restore the roadway’s operation in a safe and timely manner. The …

Constructibility Issues On Kytc Projects, Donn E. Hancher, Joseph J. Thozhal, Paul M. Goodrum

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Constructibility is defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Subcommittee on Construction as “a process that utilizes construction personnel with extensive construction knowledge early in the design stages of projects to ensure that the projects are buildable, while also being cost-effective, biddable, and maintainable” A successful constructibility review process for a transportation agency must follow an established methodology similar to value engineering. The process must be flexible and address the critical issues impacting transportation construction projects, such as ease of construction, environmental factors, construction phasing and scheduling, project safety, and accommodation of future maintenance and operations. …

Reinforcement Alternatives For Concrete Bridge Decks, Chris Hill, Choo Ching Chiaw, Issam E. Harik

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report investigates the application of various reinforcement types in concrete bridge decks as potential replacements or supplements to conventional steel reinforcement. Traditional epoxy coated reinforcement (ECS), stainless steel clad (SSC) reinforcement, MMFX microcomposite reinforcement, and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement were evaluated. Tests were conducted to determine the material properties of each reinforcement type. Full-scale two-span reinforced concrete deck specimens were load tested to evaluate their performance. CFRP reinforcement was deployed in a single-span bridge located on Elkin Station Road in Clark County, KY. The SSC and MMFX reinforcements were each placed in a separate span in a …

Development Of Procedures For Identifying High-Crash Locations And Prioritizing Safety Improvements, Kenneth R. Agent, Lenahan O'Connell, Eric R. Green, Doug Kreis, Jerry G. Pigman, Neil Tollner, Eric C. Thompson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this study were to review and analyze the current procedures for identifying high-crash locations and evaluating and prioritizing roadway safety improvements at high-crash locations, and to recommend improved methods. Several tasks were undertaken to accomplish these objectives, including the following:

• Review of program guidelines and procedures used by other states to prioritize improvements at high-crash locations
• Review and documentation of Kentucky’s current procedures
• Update of Kentucky’s Crash Buildup Program software to be compatible with the 2000 crash report form
• Development of new software to assist in estimating the benefits and costs of potential projects for inclusion in …

Intelligent Transportation Systems Statewide Architecture, Joseph D. Crabtree, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report describes the development of Kentucky’s Statewide Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture. The process began with the development of an ITS Strategic Plan in 1997-2000. A Business Plan, developed in 2000-2001, translated the goals of the Strategic Plan into specific project recommendations. To develop the Statewide Architecture, the project team first inventoried all existing and planned ITS projects in the state. A project architecture was developed for each identified project, and these project architectures were then merged to form the Statewide Architecture. This report describes the background work that set the stage for the architecture, the actual architecture development …

Abandoned Railroad Corridors In Kentucky: An Inventory And Assessment, Lisa Rainey Brownell, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report provides an inventory of Kentucky's abandoned rail lines and a detailed assessment to highlight the lines that may be the most suitable for future trail use. A secondary purpose of the report was to inventory historic railroad structures. Over 125 different abandoned rail lines were identified, mapped using GIS technology, and assessed for their current use and condition. These abandoned rights of way exist in all regions of the state, in urban and rural areas.

Roadway Lighting And Driver Safety, Eric R. Green, Kenneth R. Agent, Monica L. Barrett, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this project were to: a) analyze the safety benefits associated with roadway lighting; b) determine the design of the lighting installation necessary to provide an adequate level of lighting; c) investigate how lighting affects the driver and the roadway’s surrounding environment; d) review the economic correlation between effective lighting and cost savings for the State; e) provide input for updating the current section on street and highway lighting in the Traffic Guidance Manual; and f) analyze crash data to identify nighttime high crash locations. The procedure involved a literature search, a survey of states, crash data analysis, …

Assessment And Modeling Of Stream Mitigation Procedures [2003], Bernadette S. Dupont, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

As population increases, so does the need to improve and augment the road network. Construction of new roadways or modification of existing roads often requires diversion or modification of streams. If a stream is disturbed, government regulations require mitigation or compensatory replacement of the affected area in a similar environment. Stream mitigation is of particular importance in Kentucky, as Kentucky ranks second in the United States for having the most miles of waterways. Consequently, stream mitigation has become a significant factor in roadway construction costs. To date, no studies have been made to assess the execution of the mitigation plans …

Traffic Control At Stop Sign Approaches, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objectives of this report were to: a) determine the number of crashes in Kentucky involving a driver disregarding a stop sign and the locations where these occur, b) determine the characteristics of these crashes, c) investigate loca tions with a large number of this type of crash, and d) make recommendations to reduce the probability of a driver disregarding a stop sign. The majority of the analyses involved a review and analysis of crashes where a stop sign was listed as the traffic control and “disregarding the tra ffic control” was listed as a contributing factor. Intersections having a …

Structural Evaluation Of The Historic John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Wei-Xin Ren, Issam E. Harik, George E. Blandford, Michael Lenett, T. Michael Baseheart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The John A. Roebling suspension bridge, formerly the Covington-Cincinnati suspension bridge over the Ohio River was completed in 1867 and is still serving the Northern Kentucky community. The objective of this study is to assess the bridge load capacity via the dynamics-based technique. The scope of research includes finite element modeling and modal analysis, field ambient vibration testing, finite element model calibration to field test results, and bridge load-capacity evaluation. It is demonstrated that stress stiffening of cable elements plays an important role in both static and dynamic analyses of the Roebling suspension bridge. Large deflection behavior has been shown …

Kentucky Highway Rating System, Doug Kreis, Lenahan O'Connell

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This study had two goals: 1. Formulate a new method for generating roadway adequacy ratings; 2. Construct an appropriate data set and then test the method by comparing it to the results of the HPMS-AP method. The recommended methodology builds on the previous methodology, the HPMS-AP. However, the recommended differs from the HPMS-AP in that it incorporates crash data into the adequacy rating and increases the relative weight given to indicators of roadway safety for the appropriate functional classification of highways. The software for the proposed highway rating system is in a format that permits "what if" scenarios. The comparison …

Maintenance Painting Of Various Bridge Projects During 2001-2002: Kentucky Highway Investigative Task 42, Rick Younce, Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky has performed a series of research studies for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to monitor various experimental bridge painting projects and conduct investigative work focusing on new paint systems. The research study addressed in this report “Maintenance Painting of Various Bridge Projects During 2001-2002” Kentucky Highways Investigative Task No: 42 were intended to address experimental projects in fiscal years 2001 and 2002.

KTC and KYTC Project Design Team’s joint efforts in 2000 into early 2001 centered on the preparation of experimental bridge maintenance painting special notes, preliminary field testing/development of …

Environmental Impacts Of Bridge Cleaning Operations, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle, Rick Younce

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Cleaning (washing) operations of existing leaded paints on bridges were studied to determine the level of lead contamination in the resulting wastewater. Twelve experimental overcoating projects were let on bridges with various types of existing paint in varying states of deterioration. The projects employed different washing pressures ranging from 2500 psi to 10000 psi and various wash nozzles (fan and 0o spinner tips). KYTC standard filtration was used on 10 projects and 2 projects used an experimental filtration unit having a sand filter and two types of chemical filter media.

Prior to painting, the existing paint was analyzed for thickness, …

Analysis Of Field Permeability And Laboratory Shear Stress For Western Kentucky Parkway, Milepost 18.240 To Milepost 25.565, Caldwell-Hopkins Counties, David L. Allen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report lists and discusses results of field permeability tests and laboratory shear tests on samples from a construction project on the Western Kentucky Parkway in Caldwell-Hopkins Counties. Approximately 6,500 tons of asphaltic concrete overlay placed on this project failed to meet minimum density requirements.

Field permeability tests were performed and the results showed that in areas where the mat failed to meet density requirements there was very high permeability in those locations.

The laboratory shear tests also showed that there was a direct relationship between shear strength and density. A linear elastic layer stress analysis also indicated that the …

Development Of A Statewide Landslide Inventory Program, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham, Liecheng Sun, Barry Butcher

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Development of a comprehensive geotechnical database for risk management of highway landslide problems is described. Computer software selected to program the client/server application in a data window, components and structure of the geotechnical database, and some of the primary factors considered in constructing the database are discussed. In the establishment of a large database that will be used widely, it is extremely important to select development software that will allow simultaneous use of the database by numerous users. Major integrated components of the database include landslide, rock slope, and soil and rock engineering data. This report mainly focuses on the …

Investigation Of Soluble Salts On Kentucky Bridges, Sudhir Palle, Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Invisible soluble salts present on steel highway structures can act to promote corrosion even after maintenance painting. Soluble salts include chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions. Soluble salts found on bridge decks and roadways are the result of usage of deicing salts (chlorides), and the deposition of atmospheric pollution (nitrates and sulfates) on exterior surfaces. Typical pollution-related sources of soluble salts are coal-fired power plants, refineries, farming operations, vehicle emissions, and chemical plants. Sites for soluble salt damage on bridges include:

• Beam ends under open or leaking expansion joints,
• Flanges and lower portions of webs of overpass structures,
• Lower chords and …

Roadway Related Tort Liability And Risk Management: 5th Edition, Kenneth R. Agent, Daniel S. Turner

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 manual defines the problem by reviewing the national picture of generally growing numbers of suits and escalating financial losses from suits against highway agencies.

The manual 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 manual.

Ground Penetrating Radar: "Pavement Layer Thickness Evaluation", David A. Willett, Brad Rister

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The following report demonstrates the accuracy of using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to determine both the surface layer thickness for asphalt, and concrete pavements. In addition tests were conducted to identify GPR’s repeatability on dry pavements, GPR’s ability to determine pavement layer thicknesses in wet conditions, and an attempt was made to determine the number of actual field cores necessary to accurately post-process radar data into thickness values.

The equipment used to perform these evaluations was Geophysical Survey Systems Inc.’s model SIR 10B with the model 4108 (1 GHz.) air-launched horn antenna.

Preliminary results indicate that when ground truth cores …

Evaluation Of Post-Interchange Guide Signs, Monica L. Barrett, Jerry G. Pigman, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

There are four basic types of guide signs related to tourist and recreational facilities, each with its own requirements and purpose. These include limited supplemental guide signs, cultural and recreational supplemental guide signs, fifth legend logos, and tourist oriented directional signs. Under the category of limited supplemental guide signs is a new pilot program to include a similar type sign at 10- and 20-mile points before an interchange. These signs are called post-interchange guide signs.

This report evaluates these experimental post-interchange guide signs. This evaluation included a before and after study of crash information including total numbers and trends, a …

Assessment Of The 1997 Commodity Flow Survey For State-Level Freight Transportation Planning, Darren M. Scott

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Urban travel demand modeling in the United States has a rich history in both practice and academic research. The same cannot be said, however, of freight demand modeling despite the intermodel planning requirements of IS TEA and TEA21. In most instances, agencies responsible for state transportation planning (e.g. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet) have applied, in a limited way, the methodology developed for urban travel demand modeling (i.e., Urban Transportation Modeling System or UTMS 1) to the freight arena (see, for example, Black 1997). Obviously, this methodological similarity implies that the fundamental data requirements for both types of demand modeling are also …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S You Drink And Drive. You Lose”, Kenneth R. Agent, Eric R. Green, Ronald E. Langley

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Alcohol and drug related crashes continue to be one of the highest priority problem identification areas and considerable emphasis is being placed on programs to impact those types of crashes. Various types of campaigns have been used over the years in an attempt to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes. Kentucky was selected within the Southeast Region of the United States by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a comprehensive impaired driving campaign entitled “You Drink & Drive. You Lose”. The campaign was conducted around the 2002 Labor Day holiday. The objective of this report was to document …

Experimental Maintenance Painting Of I-65 In Louisville (Fr 108), Rick Younce, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

I-65 project in downtown Louisville consisted of 27 bridges having approximately 1,493,100 ft2 of steel. The structures had existing coatings that contained lead. The project posed significant operational and public safety and operational constraints due to close proximity of the structures with residences and businesses along the entire route. In 2000, the Central Office Project Design Team developed experimental specifications to abrasive blast and re-paint the bridges. Surface preparation procedures included solvent cleaning, pack rust removal and abrasive blast cleaning. Containment enclosures were employed throughout the project, air monitoring was performed to assure satisfactory containment, and hazardous wastes were collected …

Safety Evaluation Of New Roads, Kenneth R. Agent, Jerry G. Pigman

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The primary objective of this research study was to evaluate the crash history of bypass routes to determine if there were unusual patterns or changes in the crash history on these routes over the first years of operation. The focus of the evaluation was to collect data at bypass routes opened in recent years in Kentucky. Crash patterns were summarized with recommendations made for countermeasures to reduce the probability of crashes, specifically at intersections, with an emphasis on the early stages of operation. The literature was reviewed, crash data were obtained at nine case study bypasses, and discussions were held …

Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Painting Projects (Kentucky Highway Investigative Task No: 31), Sudhir Palle, Theodore Hopwood Ii

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky conducted a research study with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to monitor various experimental bridge painting projects. The research study Kentucky Highways Investigative Task (KHIT) No: 31 “Experimental Maintenance Painting on Various Bridge Projects During 1997-1998” covered experimental bridge projects completed through the FY 1997 and FY 1998 painting seasons (April 1 through November 15) were monitored and reported. The objectives of the research study were to:

• assess the condition of the existing paint on bridge prior to maintenance painting,
• monitor the project throughout completion,
• note problems and their resolution, …

Documentation Of Context-Sensitive Design Case Studies, Jerry G. Pigman, Donald L. Hartman, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Lisa Aultman-Hall, Sally G. Oldham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A major challenge for many current transportation projects is to plan, design and build to create a solution which will not only address the planning and engineering requirements, but also satisfy the human and natural environmental issues related to a specific project. Occasional projects of this type have been designed and built for many years, typically when there have been few alternatives otherwise. A key component to these types of projects has been a greater level of community interest and public involvement. Initial efforts to introduce the concept of increased sensitivity to community interests and the natural environment was labeled …

Contractor Performed Quality Control On Kytc Projects, Donn E. Hancher, Yuhong Wang, Kamyar C. Mahboub

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report addresses issues related to transferring the responsibility for quality control from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) to construction contractors. Surveys of the KyTC, other state departments of transportation, and Kentucky highway contractors were done to identify the advantages, concerns, and modifications of the Contractor Performed Quality Control (CPQC) program. An advisory committee of experienced KyTC engineers, FHWA representatives, and contractor representatives met periodically to identify approaches for handling key issues of the program.

Several key topics related to CPQC are presented in this report, with emphasis on quality control (QC) /quality assurance (QA) administration, QC/QA procedures, quality acceptance …

Toward Enhancing Estimates Of Kentucky’S Heavy Truck Tax Liabilities, Andrew V. Mcneill, Suzanne Perkins, Merl Hackbart

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky has established a Road Fund tax structure that is partially based on the principle that the system users pay their fair share of the costs associated with maintaining a safe and efficient highway system in Kentucky. Several of the most important sources of Kentucky’s road fund revenues derived from commercial trucking are dependent on the self-reported tax liabilities submitted by trucking firms. Self- reporting and the interstate nature of this industry allows for the possibility of tax evasion either due to fraudulent behavior or processing errors. To ensure the integrity of the system, the Revenue and Transportation Cabinets have …