Fast-Track Urban Freeway Rehabilitation with 55-hour Weekend Closures: I-710 Long Beach Case Study

In June 2003, The California Department of Transportation successfully completed reconstruction of a 4.4-km stretch of Interstate 710 in Long Beach, the most heavily truck loaded route in the state. The work was a part of a long-life asphalt concrete (AC) pavement rehabilitation project constructed during repeated 55-hour weekend closures with fast-track construction and 24-hour operations. This report presents the overall rehabilitation process and productivity based on construction data monitored at three of the eight weekend closures. Production rates of demolition, aggregate base placement, and AC paving operations received special focus, particularly in terms of variations due to 1) time of day, 2) AC mix design and number of layers, and 3) paving methods. Noticeable effects on productivity related to the learning curve of the construction crew were observed as the weekend closures were repeated. In addition, a traffic measurement study utilizing various traffic surveillance tools was implemented to quantify the impact of construction closures on network traffic delay. This case study will be useful for transportation agencies and contractors in developing integrated construction and traffic management plans for highway rehabilitation projects that maximize construction productivity and minimize traffic delay in high volume situations.