Transportation Engineering Commons^™

Effectiveness Of Chain Link Turtle Fence And Culverts In Reducing Turtle Mortality And Providing Connectivity Along U.S. Hwy 83, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska, Usa, Marcel P. Huijser, Kari E. Gunson, Elizabeth R. Fairbank

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

We evaluated the effectiveness of existing turtle fences through collecting and analyzing turtle mortality data along U.S. Hwy 83, in and around Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska, USA. We also investigated the level of connectivity for turtles provided through the culverts that were originally designed to pass water through a capture-mark-recapture experiment. While fenced valley sections had 33.1% fewer turtle observations than unfenced valley sections, the difference was not significant. However, we think that the effectiveness of the fence can be improved through fence repairs, other modifications of the fences, vegetation maintenance, and extending the length of the fences. Four …

Assessing Passenger Car Equivalency Factors For High Truck Percentages, Jianan Zhou, Laurence Rilett, Elizabeth Jones

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The Passenger Car Equivalent (PCE) values in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 2010 might not be valid for western Nebraska freeway conditions. This is because: 1) Interstate 80 (I-80) experiences high truck percentages (25% to 60%), while the HCM provides PCE values up to 25% of the truck percentage; 2) the average speed of trucks are observed lower than passenger cars, which is incompatible with the HCM assumption that the free speed of all vehicle types is the same at level terrain; and 3) it is unclear whether the “average” truck used in the simulation study for PCE values in …

Use Of Recycled Crushed Concrete (Rcc) Fines For Potential Soil Stabilization, Lindeman Mark, Varilek Brandon, Lieska Halsey, Rick Gloe, Maria Olomi

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

This study evaluated the use of Recycled Crushed Concrete (RCC) Fines for potential soil stabilization. Soil stabilization is the enhancement of subgrade stability to improve the constructability of successive pavement layers. Use of RCC fines may not only provide less costly alternatives for subgrade stabilization, but their use may also alleviate landfill disposal challenges.

Fertilizer Effects On Attaining Vegetation Requirements, Walter H. Schacht, Carol Wienhold

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Establishing Permanent Vegetation After Highway Construction, John C. Soper, Walter H. Schacht

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Path Clearance For Emergency Vehicles Through The Use Of Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication, Craig Jordan, Mecit Cetin, R. Michael Robinson

VMASC Publications

The study described in this paper evaluated and tested a new strategy to enable emergency response vehicles (EVs) to navigate through congestion at signalized intersections more efficiently. The proposed strategy involves the use of vehicle-to-vehicle communication to send messages to alert vehicles to the approach of the EV and to provide specific instructions on maneuvering to allow the EV to proceed through congested signalized intersections as quickly as possible. This movement is achieved by creation of a split in the vehicle queue in one lane at a critical location to allow the EV to proceed at its desired speed but …

Analysis Of Existing Work-Zone Sign Supports Using Manual For Assessing Safety Hardware Safety Performance Criteria, Jennifer D. Schmidt, Ronald K. Faller, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Dean L. Sicking

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

Over the years, numerous work-zone, portable sign support systems have been successfully crash tested according to the Test Level 3 safety performance guidelines provided in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 and accepted for use along our nation’s highways. For this study, several crashworthy sign support systems were analyzed to predict their safety performance according to the new evaluation criteria provided in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). More specifically, this analysis was conducted to determine which hardware parameters negatively affect a system’s safety performance. To verify the accuracy of the analysis, eight systems, four with the …

Reduction Of Stresses On Buried Rigid Highway Structures Using The Imperfect Ditch Method And Expanded Polysterene (Geofoam), Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study of earth pressure distribution on buried structures has a great practical importance in constructing highway embankments above pipes and culverts. Based on Spangler’s research, the supporting strength of a conduit depends primarily on three factors: 1. The inherent strength of the conduit; 2. The distribution of the vertical load and bottom reaction; and 3. The magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressures that act against the sides of the structure. Rigid culverts are frequently used in Kentucky for routing streams beneath highway embankments because of rolling and mountainous terrain, numerous streams, shallow depths to bedrock, which creates unyielding …

Monitoring Culvert Load With Shallow Filling Under Geofoam Areas, Charlie Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Geofoam and the “Imperfect Ditch” method can be used effectively on embankment projects to reduce pressures on underground structures when sufficient fill height is available to create an arching effect. When the fill height is too shallow the arching effect cannot be created. However, the pressure acting on the underground structure can still be reduced by making use of the very small unit weight of lightweight geofoam material. In this study, stresses acting on a three-sided culvert were reduced using lightweight geofoam. Initially, the culvert had been designed to carry a 6-foot loading. During construction it was discovered that the …

Evaluation Of A Modified Three Cable Guardrail Adjacent To Steep Slope, Ryan J. Terpsma, Dean L. Sicking, Karla A. Polivka, John R. Rohde, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Use Of Ultra-Lightweight Geofoam To Reduce Stresses In Highway Culvert Extensions, Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Culvert extension under highway embankment construction is a regular and important practice when roadway widening occurs. At some existing sites, concrete thickness and reinforcing steel of culvert tops and walls were stepped-down in sections of the culvert under the embankment slopes. The part of the culvert positioned under the embankment slopes was constructed weaker because the stresses under the portions of the slopes are much less than the stresses acting on the culvert section located under the main portion of the embankment. When additional fill is placed over the culvert due to roadway widening, much greater stresses are imposed on …

Reduction Of Stresses On Buried Rigid Highway Structures Using The Imperfect Ditch Method And Expanded Polystyrene (Geofoam), Liecheng Sun, Tommy C. Hopkins, Tony L. Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The study of earth pressure distribution on buried structures has a great practical importance in constructing highway embankments above pipes and culverts. Based on Spangler’s research, the supporting strength of a conduit depends primarily on three factors: 1. the inherent strength of the conduit; 2. the distribution of the vertical load and bottom reaction; and, 3. the magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressures which act against the sides of the structure. Considering high fills above them and high earth pressures they may experience, rigid culverts are usually used underneath highway embankments. To reduce high vertical earth pressures acting on …

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 …

Evaluation Of Working Capacity For Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (Dbe) For Highway Construction In Kentucky, Fy 2004 Update, Brad W. Rister, Raymond F. Werkmeister, Paul E. Toussaint

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Center gathered the appropriate information, performed a series of computations and analyses, prepared the attached documentation, and makes the following recommendations to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for their DBE goal for Federal Fiscal year 2004 (October 1, 2003 - September 30, 2004).

KTC recommends an overall DBE goal of 9.26%, of which 1.931% is anticipated to be satisfied by race/gender neutral prime contracts, and the resultant 7.33% should established as race/gender conscious subcontracts. The overall DBE goal figures stated here addresses an adjustment of 1.326% for the positive historical goal variance observed for the past eight years.

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, …

Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Projects: Kentucky Highway Investigative Task 40, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle, Rick Younce

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 “Experimental Maintenance Painting On Various Bridge Projects During 1998-2000” Kentucky Highways Investigative Task No: 40 was intended to address experimental projects in fiscal years 1999 and 2000, but was extended to address certain fieldwork and KYTC inspections through December 31, 2000.

KTC/KYTC Paint Team joint efforts in late 1998 into early 1999 centered on …

The Impacts Of Using A Safety Compliance Standard In Highway Design, Paul J. Ossenbruggen

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Dr. Ossenbruggen introduces an algorithmic method to objectively test and evaluate safety in the highway design process.

Pavement Design Guide: A Short Course, Kentucky Transportation Center

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The purpose of this short course is to provide information to the registered engineer (with no previous background in pavement design or pavement technology) on the structural design of pavements. Included in this course is a summary of background information on the materials used in pavement construction and on the history and evolution of pavement design. Included with this course is an updated Design Guide or catalog to be used for designing new pavements in Kentucky. The intent of the guide or catalog is to provide the road\\ a) designer with a simplified, straightforward methodology for developing structural designs of …

Cost Estimating And Forecasting For Highway Work In Kentucky [1996], James D. Stevens, Jennifer R. Walton

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%. Over the 1992 and 1994 bienniums, 362 overruns totaling $162,487,511 have been submitted to the Committee. …

Kentucky Rock Asphalt (Kyrock) Road Surfacing Material: Preliminary Investigation, Jerry G. Rose

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents a preliminary investigation of Kentucky Rock Asphalt (Kyrock) - as a road surfacing material. The indigenous bituminous impregnated sandstone was widely used as a premium quality skid resistant surfacing material during the first half of this century. Redevelopment efforts gained momentum during the 1960's, but for the last twenty years interest has waned.

Laboratory tests were conducted on the Kyrock to determine its applicability in bituminous surface mixes by blending Kyrock with virgin materials in a similar manner as adding recycled asphalt pavement. The findings indicated it was feasible to blend Kyrock and a continuation proposal was …

The History Of The Trinity Highway: A Study In Transportation Dynamics, Richard Wilutus

Books and Other Publications

Although the primary focus of this thesis is a history of California 299--the Trinity Highway, I have studied the construction of that road in the context of the history of transportation between Weaverville and Humboldt Bay. The history of a transportation network is not only a history of connections between people and places but also, in this remote region, the vital link connecting wilderness with civilization.

Ever since the settlement of the Weaverville area in 1848, its residents have sought reliable transportation to Humboldt Bay's seaport and merchandise. During this period a road has connected these two places for less …

Preliminary Engineering, Monitoring Of Construction, And Initial Performance Evaluation: Use Of Ponded Fly Ash In Highway Road Base, David Q. Hunsucker, R. Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes findings of laboratory and field trial evaluations of ponded fly ash used as a component In a stabilized aggregate base course. Ponded fly ash is the fine portion of pond ash which is a by-product of a coal burning process and Is disposed by sluicing to a disposal pond.

Three stabilized aggregate base mixtures containing various proportions of dense graded aggregate, ponded fly ash, and hydrated lime were evaluated In the laboratory relative to maximum dry density, optimum moisture content, and unconfined compressive strength. The mixture that was selected for field trial evaluation had the highest unconfined …

Demonstration Project No. 59: The Use Of Fly Ash In Highway Construction, Fayette County, Kentucky, David Q. Hunsucker, Gary W. Sharpe

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report summarizes preliminary site investigations, design criteria and procedures, construction criteria and procedures, and results of initial and final evaluations of an experimental road base utilizing lime kiln dust, fly ash and aggregate. Observed performance has been satisfactory. Compressive strength evaluations indicate exceptional early strength and continued strength gain of the pozzolanic base. Back calculation of specific elastic layer moduli indicate that the moduli of the pozzolanic base material is most likely within a range of 500,000 to 1,000,000 psi.

Based upon observations to date, treated bases enhance overall pavement performance and their use should be continued. It is …

Traffic Volume Estimates And Growth Trends, John A. Deacon, Jerry G. Pigman, Ahmad Mohsenzadeh

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The objective of this study was to develop a procedure to forecast highway traffic volumes through the use of growth factors representative of Kentucky highways and reflecting effects of important socioeconomic and demographic variables. A two-stage modeling process was used. In the first, linear regression models were used to relate average daily travel on Kentucky roadways to personal income, price of fuel, and total miles of streets and highways. In the second, cross-tabulation models were used to relate growth in volume at a specific site--expressed relative to the statewide ADT--to highway functional classification rural/urban location, county population growth, SMSA/non-SMSA designation, …

Highway Sizing, Joseph D. Crabtree, John A. Deacon

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

A critical examination is made of the conventional method for highway sizing, that is, determination of lane requirements. Ranked hourly traffic volume distributions, obtained from 1977 Kentucky volume stations are examined to test certain assumptions common to the conventional approach. Several of these distributions have no distinct "knee" and, for those which do, the knee is most frequently found outside the normally anticipated range. Of equal importance, the knee location can be arbitrarily altered simply by changing the number of highest volume hours that are examining.

The fundamental fallacy of the conventional procedure is its focus on a single design …

Recommendations For Implementation Of Uniform Project Identification From The Upi Task Force, Herbert F. Southgate

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

For years project identifications have been based upon county, section, subsection, and phase of work. While this system worked well in the beginning, overlay constructions, widening efforts, etc. have caused overlapping of projects to the point that identification of a given portion of a highway has become very difficult. Furthermore, each of the many separate phases of work has its own project number and may not be so readily identifiable as the succeeding work phase.

Management came to realize there was a need for a numbering identification system that would be readily understandable. The direct result was the development of …