Innovating Road Smoothness: Hawaii’s Trailblazing Approach to Highway Comfort

Brief

Discover how Hawaii’s Highway 130 exceeded smoothness specifications with innovative engineering and meticulous quality control, setting a new benchmark for road comfort.

Insight

In 2022, a remarkable transformation occurred on the Pahoa-Kalapana Road, a vital connection between the towns of Pahoa and Kalapana on Hawaii’s Big Island. Managed by the Hawaii Department of Transportation and executed by Jas.

W. Glover, Ltd., a notable stretch of this road underwent a significant repaving to not only meet but surpass the smoothness standards set forth by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Initially, the existing road’s Mean Roughness Index (MRI) stood over 220 in/mi, categorizing it as “poor”. The project’s challenge was to reduce this to below 60 in/mi.

Glover leveraged a high-speed inertial profiler for smoothness measurements, adhering to a strategy that involved three key phases: analyzing the existing conditions, intermediate improvements, and the final pavement application.

By employing an innovative approach that utilized variable depth milling guided by a 3D model from AutoCAD Civil 3D, they managed to significantly improve the roughness index. The final MRI measurements indicated a stellar 48 in/mi and 46 in/mi for the Northbound and Southbound lanes, respectively, showcasing an approximate 78% improvement.

This project serves as a textbook example of how data-driven decision-making, coupled with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to quality, can lead to extraordinary results. The success of the Pahoa-Kalapana Road repaving not only provided a smoother ride for travelers but also pushed the boundaries of what is achievable in roadway smoothness and longevity.

Highlight

. Initially, the existing road’s Mean Roughness Index (MRI) stood over 220 in/mi, categorizing it as “poor”. The project’s challenge was to reduce this to below 60 in/mi.
By employing an innovative approach that utilized variable depth milling guided by a 3D model from AutoCAD Civil 3D, they managed to significantly improve the roughness index.
The final MRI measurements indicated a stellar 48 in/mi and 46 in/mi for the Northbound and Southbound lanes, respectively, showcasing an approximate 78% improvement.