ASPHALT PAVEMENT REINFORCEMENT AT NEWELL HIGHWAY WITH GLASGRID GEOGRID

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

For a number of years RMS Wagga Wagga had experienced cracking through the heavily bound layer of an 1 km section of the Newell Highway in Jerilderie in regional South west New South Wales

The section of road had been patched extensively over the years by RMS, however most recently the team wanted to find a more long term solution. Instead of digging out 500 mm, the whole pavement, RMS specified milling out 140 mm of pavement and placing GlasGrid asphalt geogrid, then 90 mm of asphalt then another layer of GlasGrid geogrid followed by 50 mm asphalt.

The night works to rehabilitate the pavement included installation of 18,000 m2 (two layers) of GlasGrid geogrid along the Newell Highway through the township of Jerilderie. G8511, 100 kN/m reinforcing grid was used for both layers

To suit the roadway width, 3 m wide rolls were cut using a demolition saw (and water to cool down the blade). Also, the grid, when laid out, was easily cut on site using a Stanley knife. The installation team also had a number of curves to install around and were pleasantly surprised by how easy the grid was to install in such sections.

The specification works are part of an RMS trial, where the asphalt reinforcement is designed to increase the life of the overlay. The stretch of road will be monitored over the coming months and years, and if successful will be adopted more widely for pavement rehabilitation works (over conventional and more costly remove and replace pavement treatments).

PRODUCTS USED

GlasGrid® Asphalt Geogrid

• Fiberglass grid is applied between the levelling and surface courses of asphalt
• Designed to deflect crack stresses horizontally and dissipate stresses in asphalt layers
• Helps retard cracking from reflecting through a new asphalt overlay to the surface
• Self-adhesive application allows for quick installation