Exploring lessons learned from partnerships to establish a regional accelerated pavement testing facility in Wyoming

• Published in: The international journal of pavement engineering 2023-01, Vol.24 (2)
• Main Authors: Fosu-Saah, Benjamin, Hafez, Marwan, Ksaibati, Khaled
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accelerated pavement testing; Accelerated tests; dry-freeze climate; Feasibility studies; Partnerships; Pavement design; Pavements; pooled fund studies; Recycled materials; Roads; Test facilities; test road
• ISSN: 1029-8436; 1477-268X
• DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2022.2075866

A foremost accelerated pavement testing (APT) test road facility is proposed along interstate 80 for the dry-freeze climate by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). A survey was undertaken among states and industries in the region as part of the feasibility study to identify research needs and interests in the test road project. This paper summarises the responses of the survey and lessons learned from the experiences of 3 APT test road facilities in the U.S. Respondents perceive the APT to be relevant and critical to the study and state-of-practice of pavement engineering. Respondents' research needs include local calibration for the mechanistic-empirical (ME) pavement design, pavement preservations alternatives, and recycled materials for pavements. The presented information and the lessons learned will guide future APT programmes at the planning stage on nurturing partnerships and avoiding the mistakes of earlier APTs to minimise the wastage of scarce resources.