2017 Construction
NRRA Phase 3 Construction
View the full YouTube playlist of weekly video updates of the construction and engineer commentary.
Report on 2017 MnROAD Construction Activities (pdf)
2013 Construction
MnROAD 2013 Reconstruction and Repair of Mainline Cells 160-163 and 613 along with LVR cells 32 and 140-240
2013 Engineer's Weekly Update
2011 Construction
MnROAD 2011 Reconstruction and Repair of PCC Mainline Cells 5, 6, 63, & 96
Four test cells on the MnROAD Mainline were in need of reconstruction or substantial repairs in 2011. This opportunity allowed us to enhance the research program at MnROAD by evaluating and demonstrating the following materials and methods:
- the performance of three gradations to optimize paste content, workability, and durability;
- longitudinal tining as a quiet surface;
- the use of drainable, stable aggregate bases to enhance pavement life; and
- roller compacted concrete on the shoulders.
Also, a thin (5") unbonded concrete overlay using a non- woven geotextile interlayer was
constructed on half a cell, and, repairs were made on a thin whitetopping cell to evaluate
best practices to maintain concrete overlays.
Stabilized Full Depth Reclamation on Cell 28
With budgets being stretched and local sources of pavement materials being depleted, reconstruction of low volume roadways is becoming difficult for local agencies to fund. Cheaper methods, such as the use of gravel material, have been adopted to try and alleviate these costs.
The construction on Cell 28 explored alternative methods of paving that are both renewable and relatively inexpensive in overall costs. The plan attempted to utilize in situ materials of the previous Cell 28 construction to repave the cell in a sustainable manner using 100% of the existing materials. The cell consisted of 100% recycled pavement that has no transportation costs, material costs, and relatively inexpensive operating costs providing for a better quality road. This cell has the potential to serve as a model for maintaining thousands of low volume road miles.
2011 Engineer's Weekly Updates
2010 Construction Updates
Three new test cells were constructed on the Mainline to investigate the design, construction, and performance aspects of composite pavements. Construction began in mid-April and was completed by the end of May.
Engineer's Weekly Reports
2008 Construction Updates
Reconstruction began in April 2008 and was completed in November. Over 20 test cells were either reconstructed or rehabilitated with asphalt or concrete surfacing. MnROAD staff installed over 1400 sensors in the various pavement layers during construction.
2007 Construction Updates
MnROAD reconstruction on the Low Volume Road in 2007 included fly ash stabilized full depth reclamation, polyphosphoric acid modified asphalt, and two new cells to evaluate the impact of implements of husbandry vehicles on low volume roadways.
Two Cells on the mainline were diamond ground with an innovative grind for quiet pavements
2006 Construction Updates
In 2006 Cell 1, 27, and 28 were reconstructed by MnROAD. There were three significant aspects of research behind the test cell reconstruction: field validation of Geocomposite Capillary Barrier Drain (GCBD) for limiting moisture changes in pavements, Intelligent Compaction (IC) research performed on the unbound base and subgrade layers, and accelerated testing of PG 52-34 binder to support a Local Road Research Board (LRRB) project. These reports document the previous pavement condition, pavement structural and mixture designs, instrumentation plan, field construction activities, material sampling, and laboratory test results.
Pervious concrete helps to divert polluted and excess water from local water sources. In 2006 MnROAD and its partners collaborated on a pervious concrete sidewalk project to help study how to effectively use pervious concrete to best limit negative environmental factors.
2005 Construction Updates
In 2005, MnROAD continued to study the effectiveness of pervious concrete in its test cells. MnROAD was researching the pervious concrete's inherent sustainability during the varying environmental factors that come with each season especially safety during the winter seasons.
2004 Construction Updates
2004 marked several different construction and research projects for MnROAD. Cells 60- 63 were constructed using whitetopping technique to replace earlier whitetopping cells constructed in 1997. The report below contains the relevant information about the reconstruction and the data attained through the seven years research.
Mesabi Hard Rock aggregate began to be tested during 2004 resulting in several reports and studies. The purpose of the research was to see the utilization possibility of a new and Minnesota based resource.
- 2004 MnROAD Mesabi Select Hot Mix Asphalt (LRRB inv. 819) (pdf)
- MnROAD Cell 54: Cell Constructed with Mesabi- Select Aggregate;
Construction and Early Performance (pdf)
Cell 26 was reconstructed to replace a test cell that had failed prematurely.
1999 Construction Updates
This paper's purpose is to provide an update on the pavement condition of MnROAD's three low volume road (LVR) SuperPave test cells constructed in 1999 with different asphalt binders. These cells were built to field validate the current low temperature performance grading (PG) system currently being used at MnDOT and many other agencies around the world.
- 1999 SuperPave Tracking (pdf)
1996 Construction Updates
This report focuses on the second construction phase of the Minnesota Road Research facility (MnROAD) and evaluates three typical, locally available, surfacing aggregates along with a rollover section from the initial phase for performance.
1990-1993 Construction Updates
These are initial reports released by MnROAD during its original construction.