pavement work tips no. 16 June 1999 INTRODUCTION EXCAVATION Key Summary Road openings involve excavation or The thickness and trenching of road pavement and subgrade an indication of the This issue of materials for purposes such as the repair or quality of each layer, 'pavement work installation of utilities (e.g. power, water, of in situ pavement tips' provides sewage, etc.). materials should be general guidelines A schematic representation of a trench noted at the time of for the effective cutting in an existing road is shown in Fig. 1. removal to ensure reinstatement of that minimum depths openings made in of material such as road pavements Asphalt Asphalt asphalt are used Reinstatement during replacement. Base, subbase Structural Excavations should be straight sided with pavement
Reinstatement no reverse slopes to interfere with compaction
Select Backfill of reinstatement material. The width of Subgrade Utility excavation should be generally wide enough for the operation of mechanical compaction Bedding equipment. Figure 1. Representation of Reinstatement BACKFILL OF SUBGRADE In many cases, statutory powers and MATERIALS regulations of public utilities or road agencies Before commencing backfill operations, the cover the reinstatement of road openings. bed of the trench should be thoroughly The following notes are for general guidance compacted. Bedding materials must comply only and should be read on the understanding with the requirements of the relevant utility. that they may need to be qualified by Backfill should be selected material conditions or agreements existing in each complying with the requirements of the road State. authority. The excavated materials may be In all cases, the safety of road users must be suitable, but expansive clay materials that swell considered. and shrink with changes in moisture content should be avoided. If the excavated material GENERAL is used, each layer should be placed at approximately the level from which it was The general principle is that reinstatement originally taken. must provide a structural adequacy and serviceability that is at least equal to that in Pervious materials such as sands, and some existence prior to the road being disturbed. gravels, should also be avoided where there is a risk that they may allow moisture to Insitu pavements generally have well accumulate in the trench and soften the compacted materials due to original subgrade. construction standards and trafficking. Disturbing the pavement material can create A typical specification for select backfill AUSTROADS a plane of weakness and reduced capacity to requires a granular material having 100% transfer loads. High standards of compaction passing a 37.5mm sieve, 10 to 40% passing a of appropriate replacement materials are 75 micron sieve, and a PI of 5 to 20. essential to avoid later settlement. continued on reverse
pavement work tips is produced by AUSTROADS in conjunction with AAPA
For more information Reinstatement of Road Openings page 2 on any of the construction practices discussed in Backfill materials should be placed in layers ASPHALT PAVEMENTS "pavement work tips", of around 150mm thickness, at moisture Granular base and subbase layers should be please contact either content close to optimum, and thoroughly replaced as discussed for sprayed seal your local compacted using mechanical tampers. AUSTROADS pavements, above. Pavement Reference Cement stabilised soil may also be used, The asphalt thickness must be at least equal Group representative particularly where stability in wet conditions to that in the existing pavement. Generally, or AAPA is required or adequate compaction is difficult. tel (03) 9853 3595; reinstatement of asphalt surfacing is similar fax (03) 9853 3484; Rigid materials may not be permitted around in technique to pot hole repair. Edges of e-mail: some service pipes and conduits and high existing pavement should be cut straight and info@aapa.asn.au cement contents (more than 5%) should be vertical. The sides and base should be tack A complete list of avoided in all cases as cracking may result. coated prior to placing asphalt. "pavement work tips" issues is available on GRANULAR PAVEMENTS WITH In some cases, a slight crown may be formed AAPA's web site: in the asphalt surfacing to allow for subsequent www.aapa.asn.au SPRAYED SEAL SURFACING consolidation of the trench although the Issues may be Suitable granular materials should be used amount of consolidation is somewhat difficult downloaded using to match the profile of the existing pavement. to estimate. High standards of compaction of Adobe Acrobat The quality must be at least equal to that Reader. Copies may materials that minimise further consolidation also be obtained from removed and have similar permeability under traffic are preferred. AAPA. Material may characteristics. Re-use of contaminated be freely reproduced As with sprayed seal surfacings, above, a pavement materials should be avoided. providing the source temporary surfacing may be applied for later Depending on traffic volumes and road user is acknowledged. completion of reinstatement. safety requirements, the granular material may This edition was Cold mix patching materials may be used as prepared by be compacted flush with the adjacent seal and temporary surfacing. In such cases, the full John Rebbechi in left unsealed for several days to allow for consultation with depth of cold mix should be removed when further consolidation under traffic and members of the placing the final asphalt surface. Cold mix National Asphalt settlement in the trench prior to replacing the materials are not generally suitable as Research seal. permanent surfacing of road openings. Coordination Group Alternatively, a temporary surfacing may be (NARC). used that is replaced or resurfaced as part of CONCLUSION final reinstatement. Reinstatement of road openings should be carried out with materials As far as practicable, the surface type and that provide a quality that is at least equal to the existing pavement. texture should be matched to the adjacent High standards of compaction are required to avoid further settlement pavement. Alternatively, the full lane width and depressions in the final surface. Where possible, the surfacing may be resurfaced to provide uniform texture should be finished to match the texture, surface type and colour of and friction characteristics. the rest of the pavement.