The movement of overweight or heavy vehicles with increased axle and tire loads can cause premature pavement damage and accelerate deterioration. For state transportation agencies to effectively manage their pavement systems and consider alternative rehabilitation or design strategies for heavy-load movements, the impacts of such vehicles and the associated pavement damage must be assessed. Assessing pavement impacts under heavy loads is resource-intensive and challenging, given the iterative nature of the design process. Despite their significance, low-volume roads (LVRs) typically receive less attention than their high-volume counterparts because of resource constraints. Therefore, it is important to understand how state departments of transportation (DOTs) assess the impacts of heavy loads on LVRs, particularly because the design of LVRs differs significantly from that of typical high-volume roads.

NCHRP Synthesis 666: Design and Evaluation of Pavements for Low-Volume Roads with Heavy Loads, produced by TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program, examines LVRs exposed to heavy, overweight, or nonstandard traffic, which can increase the risk of rapid deterioration and premature failure. The report focuses specifically on LVRs managed by state DOTs; practices of local agencies, such as those of cities, counties, and townships, are not included. Topics covered include pavement design and modifications, permitting requirements, structural impacts and failures, performance monitoring and maintenance strategies, springtime load restrictions, and case examples of design approaches for LVRs subjected to heavy loads.

Infrastructure Assets: Highway Assets, Pavement
Resource Types: Research Report
Capabilities: Data & Information Systems
Management Processes: Monitoring & Adjustment, Performance Based Planning & Programming