Initial Improvement in Ride Quality of Jointed, Plain Concrete Pavement with Microsurfacing: Case Study

Safety, cost, ride quality, and performance are characteristics of pavement systems that are considered high-priority customer demands by transportation agencies throughout the world. Ride quality is the characteristic most notable to the traveling public. Throughout the United States, numerous state and federal agencies have developed specifications that require that road contractors meet a minimum level of ride quality before a pavement is approved for payment. Studies have shown that initial (as constructed) ride quality is an important factor in determining overall serviceability and length of time to rehabilitation or reconstruction. A case study in Cowley County, Kansas, in which the ride quality of an existing jointed, plain concrete pavement was significantly improved by the placement of a thin, polymer-modified, asphaltemulsion microsurfacing system, is described. The existing pavement conditions, the construction techniques used by the contractor, and the smoothness measurements before and after construction are noted and discussed. It was found that a marked reduction in roughness can be accomplished with unique construction techniques and microsurfacing.