Synthesis of Pavement Issues Related to High-Speed Corridors

The objective of this research project was to produce a synthesis of available information to support specific areas related to pavements for the safe, economical development of the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC). This synthesis is divided into nine sections, each of which deals with a specific topic or topics. These specific areas include (1) pavement design for heavy vehicles, (2) pavement design for light vehicles, (3) skid resistance issues on high-speed corridors, (4) issues related to traffic characterization, (5) smart pavements for high-speed corridors, (6) pavement material response to dynamic loads and performance prediction, (7) safety issues related to splash and spray, and (8) ride quality for high-speed corridors. Regarding these stated issues, this synthesis recommends state-of-the-art technology to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for use during development of the TTC. It provides recommendations for future research to fill gaps in knowledge and to take emerging technology to the stage where it can be implemented during the design and construction of the TTC pavements. This is the first synthesis study to address issues related to the TTC. A secondary objective of this project was to determine if additional synthesis studies in other areas of transportation related to the TTC should be conducted and, if so, how the process might be improved. This synthesis recommends that future syntheses should be more focused on specific, maybe critical, issue(s); the researcher should be instructed to present only those findings that are really new, innovative, and potentially implementable. One element of the study should pursue non-transportation related technology that might be adapted to transportation issues.