MnROAD’s Future Vision

7th International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, Trondheim Norway

Abstract

Minnesota Department of Transportation constructed the Minnesota Road Research Project (MnROAD) between 1990-1994. This paper reviews MnROAD’s existing resources, seven key research topics, current test cells avalible for reconstruction, and the expected actions needed to accomplish the key topics for MnROAD’s next phase. The MnROAD site is located 40 miles northwest of Minneapo lis/St. Paul and is an extensive pavement research facility consisting of two separate roadway segments containing 51 500-footlong distinct test cells. The 3 ½-mile Mainline Test Roadway (Mainline) is part of westbound interstate 94 and contains 31 test cells and carries an average of 20,000 vehicles daily. Parallel and adjacent to the Mainline is a Low Volume Roadway that is a 2 ½-mile-closed loop that contains the remaining 19 test cells. Traffic on the LVR is restricted to an MnROAD op erated 18 wheel, 5-axle, tractor/trailer with two different loading configurations of 102kips and 80kips. Subgrade, aggregate base, and surface materials, as well as geometric design methods vary from cell to cell. Daily information is gathered via a computerized data collection system that monitors more than 4500 mechanical and environmental sensors.