Contribution of MnROAD Research to Improvements in Concrete Pavement Technology from 1994–2019

By the late 1980s several states, including Minnesota, began to wonder if American Association of State Highway Official (AASHO) based asphalt and concrete pavement designs were still valid, given the significant changes in traffic loads, materials and construction practices over time. This interest in validating current designs, as well as seeking improved and more efficient designs and materials, led to the creation of the Minnesota Road Research facility, known as MnROAD. Construction of the first phase of test sections at MnROAD took place from 1991 to 1994, and it was open to traffic loading commencing on July 15, 1994. Since 1994, three phases of pavement research have been, and continue to be, conducted at MnROAD. In its first 25 years of operation, an overwhelming amount of pavement research and development has been accomplished at MnROAD. The focus of this paper is to describe many of the more unique and significant findings that have improved concrete pavement technology not only in Minnesota, but throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world. The contributions are categorized into the following areas: design, materials, construction, rehabilitation, pavement monitoring and evaluation, and full-scale testing. In each of the areas, the significant contributions are described and relevant references are cited. The positive contributions of MnROAD toward concrete pavement knowledge and technology have been recognized, and as a result, the MnROAD facility will continue to operate successfully into the future under the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA).