VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

SPECIAL PROVISION FOR

RIDEABILITY

 

June 24, 1998

 

Section 315.07(a)  Surface Tolerances is replaced by the following:

 

(a)        Pavement smoothness will be determined by a profiler on designated lanes having a design speed of 40 miles per hour or higher as specified herein.  Intersections, urban areas, transition lanes, and pavement within 25 feet of bridge approach slabs will be tested by a straightedge.

 

For all designated pavement, the surface course ride quality acceptance shall be based on the lowest site average International Roughness Index (IRI) produced by a minimum of two (2) test runs, in accordance with the requirements ASTM E 950 and reported for each lane.  The South Dakota style road profiler will measure International Roughness Index (IRI) of both wheelpaths with laser height sensing instruments.  The Department shall conduct the testing within 14 calendar days of completion of the final surface course over the designated section(s).

 

Acceptance

 

An IRI number in inches per mile shall be established for each 0.1 mile section and each lane of the surface course. The last 0.01 mile section before a bridge, the first 0.01 mile section after a bridge, and the beginning and end 0.01 mile sections of the surface course will not be subject to a pay adjustment

 

 

Areas excluded from testing by the profiler will be tested using a 10 foot straightedge.  The variation of the surface from the testing edge of the straightedge between any two contacts with the surface shall not be more than 1/4 inch.  Humps and depressions exceeding the specified tolerance shall be subject to correction as directed by the Engineer, at no additional cost to the Department.

 

The following table provides the acceptance quality rating scale of pavement based on the final rideability determination.  The pay incentive/disincentive schedule will be applied to the final surface area of the surface course.  The surface area, in square yards, shall be calculated based on the tested section length and lane width as shown on the plans.

 

 

    INTERNATIONAL ROUGHNESS INDEX      INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE

                (INCHES PER MILE)                              PAY ADJUSTMENT

                                                                   (DOLLARS PER SQUARE YARD)

 

                  50.0 AND UNDER                                        0.16 incentive   

                  50.1 - 55.0                                                   0.13 incentive                           

                  55.1 - 60.0                                                   0.10 incentive

                  60.1 - 70.0                                                   0.00

                  70.1 - 80.0                                                   0.03 disincentive

                  80.1 - 90.0                                                   0.10 disincentive                                          90.1 - 100.0                                                 0.17 disincentive

                 OVER 100.0                                     SUBJECT TO CORRECTIVE ACTION


 

In addition, any 0.01 mile of a 0.1 mile section that has a IRI which exceeds 110 inches per mile will also be subject to correction as directed by the Engineer regardless of the IRI average over that 0.1 mile section.  This 0.1 mile section will not receive any incentive payment. The Engineer has the option of applying up to the minimum percent payment to any 0.1 mile section subject to corrective action or to any 0.1 mile section containing a 0.01 mile section subject to corrective action.

 

When corrections to the pavement surface are required, the Contractor's method of correction shall be approved by the Engineer.  In order to produce a uniform cross section, the Engineer may require correction to the adjoining traffic lanes or shoulders.  Corrections to the pavement surface and/or the adjoining traffic lanes and shoulders will be at no cost to the Department.

 

Where corrections are made, the pavement will be retested to verify that corrections have produced the acceptable ride surface.  Pay disincentives or corrections may be required based on the retested IRI measurements.  Retesting of a corrected pavement surface will be at the Contractor's expense.  No incentives will be provided for sections on which corrective actions have been required.