Interest in rigid pavements as an alternative and complement to flexible pavements has increased both in Europe and the USA. Contributory causes are the increasing traffic loads that set demands on more stable pavements and the elimination of the problem of low driving comfort since concrete pavements can now be built with the same evenness as asphalt pavements. In addition, new and improved maintenance methods have been used for concrete pavements. The excellent wear resistance of concrete wearing courses has been decisive in reviving interest in concrete pavements on the part of the Swedish Road Administration. The objective is to regenerate Swedish know-how concerning concrete pavements. concrete pavements. During spring 1989, a decision was taken to construct two test sections of jointed concrete pavements. The intention is to write construction specifications for concrete roads and to evaluate the specifications for full-scale test sections. This report describes the construction of the first test section at Arlanda in 1990. The pavement is built of short unreinforced slabs laid on a cement-bound gravel road base. The slabs are held together transversely with dowels. The joints are sealed. The concrete pavement was laid with a slip form paver. The high strength concrete (K80) has been tested for good wear properties. To further improve evenness and surface texture, the entire concrete pavement was ground with a diamond grinder. The finished result has been documented in regard to evenness, friction, noise, surface texture, lightness, bearing capacity and wear resistance. The results are very satisfactory and well meet the performance requirements. The condition of the road will be followed up with measurements over a number of years. (A)
Abstract