407ETR is a multi-lane, electronic toll highway that currently runs 69 km across the top of the Greater Toronto Area. 407ETR is four lanes, except between Highway 10 and McCowan Road, which is six lanes. To accommodate future traffic needs, 407ETR has the capability of expanding to 10 lanes. 407ETR was built in stages, in just four-and-a-half years. The first phase of 407ETR was opened in the summer of 1997, with extensions opened in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Traffic volume has risen steadily since tolling began and continues to grow with over 240,000 average weekday trips each month! A comprehensive pavement evaluation program was performed on 407ETR to determine the pavement conditions and to identify areas with high possibility of premature deterioration. Advanced, non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques were implemented in this program to detect performance problems at early stages before they manifest on the pavement surface in the form of distresses. The pavement evaluation program consisted of a visual distress survey, a profile based rideability (roughness) survey, a skid resistance survey and a limited deflection survey using the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD). Several analyses were performed on the collected data. These analyses included the calculation of the MTO Distress Manifestation Index (DMI), the International Roughness Index, (IRI), the MTO Riding Comfort Index (RCI) and the Surface Friction Number (FN), estimating joint faulting, determining the in-situ pavement structural capacity and foundation condition, evaluating the load transfer efficiency across transverse joints and detecting the existence of voids underneath the PCC slabs. Results of the comprehensive pavement evaluation program performed on 407ETR indicated that the overall condition of the pavement is good. However, based on the deflection analysis and the faulting analysis some preventative maintenance is required. This paper describes the testing and analysis performed on 407ETR, as well as the analysis performed to identify the need for preventative maintenance. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting