Development of a Method to Determine Pavement Damage Due to Detours (TR-470)

Project Details
STATUS

Completed

PROJECT NUMBER

02-105, TR-470

START DATE

04/01/02

END DATE

04/30/05

FOCUS AREAS

Infrastructure

RESEARCH CENTERS InTrans, CTRE
SPONSORS

Iowa Department of Transportation
Iowa Highway Research Board

Researchers
Principal Investigator
Omar Smadi

Director, CTRE

Co-Principal Investigator
Zachary Hans

Director, CWIMS

About the research

The research presented in this report provides the basis for the development of a new procedure to be used by the Iowa DOT and cities and counties in the state to deal with detours. Even though the project initially focused on investigating new tools to determine condition and compensation, the focus was shifted to traffic and the gas tax method to set the basis for the new procedure. It was concluded that the condition-based approach, even though accurate and consistent condition evaluations can be achieved, is not feasible or cost effective because of the current practices of data collection (two-year cycle) and also the logistics of the procedure (before and after determination). The gas tax method provides for a simple, easy to implement, and consistent approach to dealing with compensation for use of detours. It removes the subjectivity out of the current procedures and provides for a more realistic (traffic based) approach to the compensation determination.

TOP