Results of a Southern California freeway survey that set out to determine the short-term and long-term performance of rapid strength concrete for the potential repair and restoration of highway infrastructure work.
Deteriorating highway and other infrastructure conditions across the U.S., combined with widespread funding shortfalls, make it clear that there is a need for cost-effective, long-term solutions for roadway preservation. Surveys of existing projects in California have addressed this need, with results documenting pavement restoration successes and offering guidance on the practice of pavement management.
The use of rapid strength concrete (RSC) for roadway construction is extremely beneficial for today’s congested highways and the traveling public. Because RSC reaches opening strength in a matter of hours, slab replacement can be accomplished overnight. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has used RSC for pavement repair since the 1990s and is typically able to complete slab replacement—including removal of cracked slabs, repair of the base course, placing of dowel bars and interlayer, and placing and curing of RSC—within a six-hour window. Lanes are typically closed at 11:00 PM and open to traffic again by 5:00 AM.