Integrated Design/Construction/Operations Analysis for Fast-track Urban Freeway Reconstruction

Most urban freeways in California and elsewhere in the United States were constructed between 1955 and 1970 with design lives of 20 years and are thus reaching the end of their serviceable lives. The California Department of Transportation is rehabilitating or reconstructing deteriorated urban freeways using Long-Life (with design lives of more than 30 years) Strategies. This paper describes constructability and productivity analysis of the fast-track pavement reconstruction on I-15 at Devore, which is located near San Bernardino. The project uses eight 72-hour weekday closures. The integrated analysis presented in this memorandum concluded that the 72-hour closure is the most economical scenario when compared to other types of closures from the perspective of construction schedules, road user delays, and construction costs. The outline of the contingency plan, incentive contracts, and prototype lane closure charts were all developed as part of the construction management plan, utilizing the Construction Analysis for Pavement Rehabilitation Strategies (CA4PRS) computer model. The results of this study are useful for transportation agencies in developing highway rehabilitation strategies that balance the maximization of construction productivity with a minimization of traffic delay.