Author: Christine M. ReedPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Allowance for funds used during construction (Public utilities)
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
In the mid-1980s, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) found itself challenged to maintain an aging highway network at an acceptable level of service on a limited financial base. This made programming rehabilitations for the rural highways difficult under the existing rehabilitation policies. In an effort to minimize the required maintenance effort on these highways as well as maximize the available rehabilitation dollars, IDOT initiated a new single pass, thin lift overlay rehabilitation strategy in 1986. The new rehabilitation strategy was titled Surface Maintenance at the Right Time (SMART). As part of this study, a three-phased performance evaluation was conducted. The first phase of the evaluation focused on the Condition Rating Survey (CRS) values. When the SMART program was established in 1986, it was hoped that the CRS value of a selected project, at least five years after rehabilitation, would be no lower than it was prior to rehabilitation. The methods of analyzing the CRS values included in this study indicated that this standard is being surpassed by a vast majority of the projects. The second phase of the evaluation investigated the riding quality indexes of the SMART projects. Like the CRS values, the analysis of the riding quality indexes indicated the SMART projects are exceeding expectations. The final phase of the evaluation focused on the construction costs of the SMART projects. The construction costs were subject to yearly fluctuations; however, the fluctuations were not excessive. Five years of close monitoring has shown the SMART program to be a viable rehabilitation alternative. This study concludes that the SMART program should be continued under the current guidelines.
