VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

SPECIAL PROVISION FOR

RIDEABILITY

April 19, 1999

Section 316.04(k) 1, 2, 3, and 5 Rideability is replaced by the following:

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 as soon as practicable and prior to opening to public traffic.

Acceptance

An IRI number in inches per mile shall be established for each 0.1 mile section for each lane. 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 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. 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 (INCHES PER MILE)	INCENTIVE/DISINCENTIVE PAY ADJUSTMENT (DOLLARS PER SQUARE YARD)
50.0 OR LESS		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	CORRECTIVE WORK REQUIRED

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 maximum disincentive 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.

Corrective work shall be completed prior to determining pavement thickness.

The Contractor is advised that Section 316.04(k)(4) Straightedge Test of the specifications will remain applicable on this contract.