R&T Portfolio: Deployment of Pavement Technologies
The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA’s) Accelerated Implementation and Deployment of Pavement Technologies Program serves as the implementation and deployment mechanism for innovations produced by FHWA’s Pavement and Materials Research and Development Program and Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) research. These efforts provide tools, technology, and guidance to improve the safety, durability, sustainability, and cost effectiveness of highway pavement through performance-engineered mix design and innovative material use.
Program Objectives:
- Deploy new, cost-effective designs, materials, recycled materials, and practices to extend the pavement performance and to improve user satisfaction.
- Reduce initial cost and lifecycle costs of pavements, including the costs of new construction, replacement, maintenance, and rehabilitation.
- Deploy accelerated construction techniques to increase safety and reduce construction time and traffic disruption and congestion.
- Deploy new nondestructive and real-time pavement evaluation technologies and construction techniques.
- Provide effective technology transfer and information dissemination to accelerate implementation of new technologies and to improve life, performance, cost effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction.
FHWA participates in a national pooled fund study and provides implementation guidance for performance-engineered mixtures for concrete and asphalt.
Spotlight Project: Performance Engineered Pavements (PEP)
PEP is a holistic approach to pavement engineering that incorporates the desired performance throughout all phases of the pavement life cycle: design, materials and construction, quality assurance, preservation, and pavement management. The primary goal of the PEP initiative is to increase the long-term durability and performance of pavement. This initiative also encourages agencies to identify the prevalent failure mechanisms within their network and assess the available performance tests to address the causes of premature deterioration.
Image source: FHWA.
FHWA supports innovative testing technologies for performance-engineered concrete and asphalt mixes, including mobile testing trailers.
Spotlight Project: Mobile Asphalt/Concrete Technology Center
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FHWA’s Mobile Asphalt Technology Center (MATC) is an asset for agencies to improve design, materials, construction, and performance of highway asphalt pavements. The MATC is equipped with traditional and state-of-the-art testing equipment that shows promise, or is nearly ready, for use in the highway industry. It serves as a link between agencies, private industry, and academia to showcase best practices for asphalt pavements that make an impact on the long-term performance and sustainability of roadway programs. FHWA’s Mobile Concrete Technology Center (MCTC) introduces Federal, State, and local transportation personnel, industry representatives, and academia to state-of-the-art tools and practices for concrete materials selection, mixture design, field and laboratory testing, and pavement evaluation. The MCTC promotes proven concrete paving practices and demonstrates available, but underused, technology to advance concrete for U.S. infrastructure projects. |
Image source: FHWA.
Through its sustainable pavements efforts, FHWA encourages consideration for environmental, cost, social, and engineering performance, and provides technical guidance to support analysis and use of recycled or other unconventional materials.
Spotlight Project: Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA) Technical Guidance
| At least 44 State highway agencies allow the use of RCA in various roadway applications, but several barriers currently restrict the more widespread use of the resource. To address these challenges, FHWA is working with highway agencies and industry partners to develop and distribute technical guidance on the effective use of RCA in roadway applications. FHWA’s technical-guidance products include four webinars—available online for on-demand viewing—and six technical briefs, also available online. |
Image source: FHWA.
Contact Us
Office of Infrastructure Research and Development
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
6300 Georgetown Pike
McLean, VA 22101
United States
Office of Infrastructure
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Last updated: Tuesday, June 7, 2022