Assessment of California’s Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Practice and Performance

Around 2009, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) adopted continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) as the preferred pavement type for high-volume truck corridors across the state. Over the last decade, Caltrans has constructed more than a dozen CRCP projects in different climates and exposure to different truck volumes. Caltrans was interested in assessing early CRCP performance and identifying potential areas where design, materials, plans, and specifications, and/or construction practices warranted improvement. This project included a review of national CRCP practice, documentation of Caltrans’ statewide practice, and condition assessment of select CRCP projects statewide. For the most part, Caltrans’ CRCP practice is similar to national guidance and other state highway agency practice. A condition assessment of 14 CRCP projects revealed a wide range of performance with various degrees of distresses (i.e., transverse, cluster, and Y-cracking, and punchouts). However, pavements with average transverse crack spacing below Caltrans’ desired lower limit of 3 ft appeared to have acceptable performance. Excessive map cracking, a high percentage of cluster cracking, and initial development of punchouts was evident in sections that appeared to be performing poorly. General recommendations are provided to advance Caltrans’ CRCP practice.