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IH-20 TxDOT CEI: Nighttime Asphalt Testing & Inspection

Project Background

Asphalt mill and overlays are essential to pavement lifecycle maintenance, especially on highly traveled roadways. TxDOT needed to repair a section of IH 20 from US 180 to FM 1884, and HNTB retained HVJ North Texas to perform field inspections and asphalt materials testing. The project scope includes milling existing pavement, pavement repair, cleaning & sealing concrete joints, seal coat, hot mix asphalt pavement, bridge joint repair, and new pavement markings.

Practice: Construction Materials Engineering & Testing

Sector: Roads

Location: Weatherford, TX

Services: Asphalt Field and Lab Testing, Inspection

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The Problem

Pavement repairs on the busy highway were necessary for noise reduction, driver comfort, and safety. TxDOT needed overlay repairs to be made with minimal disruption to traffic and to avoid production delays, which are common pain points in these types of projects. The fieldwork also needed to be completed during nighttime, during which there is a higher risk of communication breakdowns, and required close collaboration with the contractor Austin Bridge and Road.

The Goal

Our goal was to provide dependable asphalt field and lab testing and to keep the project on schedule with a well-coordinated process. To meet this goal, our team needed to use a proactive, hands-on approach, including a quick turnaround on reports. We needed to complete reliable and timely Lab Molded Density, In Place Air Void, and other test reports before daily production could begin. The percentage of In Place Air Voids is critical to ensuring the pavement will perform well under heavy traffic. Without these daily reports, there would be a risk of the pavement being lower quality and more susceptible to damage.

The Solution

We provided a full-time inspector and technician to manage daily inspections and reports, who ensured that we foresaw any potential problems and closely collaborated with all project stakeholders, particularly the contractor Austin Bridge and Road. The team had peace of mind that we had reports ready ahead of schedule, overcoming a common cause of production delays.

Our Results

Our active, hands-on approach and daily reports enabled all involved stakeholders to provide a high-quality product to TxDOT. The project improved driver safety and drive/noise quality, with minimal driver disruption. New overlay markings also contributed to a better driving experience with clearer, brighter lane markings and improved safety at night and on rainy days. TxDOT noted our team’s ambitious and proactive approach.

HVJ North Texas performed the Hot Mix Testing under HNTB’s CEI contract for the Mill & Overlay with Superpave on IH 20 from US 180 to FM 1884 in Parker County. HVJ’s Level 1A technician kept all parties informed of test results and coordinated with lab personnel Siva Venigalla.  HVJ’s Level 1B inspector/technician provided great inspection as well as coordination with Austin Bridge & Road Level 1B to ensure a high-quality product was provided to TxDOT. 

HNTB Project Manager

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