OTA HE Bailey Turnpike I-44

Project OverviewDescripción del proyecto

The I-44/H.E. Bailey Turnpike Rehabilitation project stretches across three different counties for 16 centerline miles or 64 lane miles. When this portion of the highway was constructed in the 1980’s, the Oklahoma Transportation Authority (OTA) did not use transverse dowel bars to displace vehicle loads from PCC panel to PCC panel. This led to rapid pavement deterioration.

With the most competitive proposal, ESS was awarded the $8.9 million pavement rehabilitation project. OTA tasked ESS with placing dowel bar retrofits (DBR) in each transverse joint to displace the vehicle load. The pavement preservation team developed a comprehensive project approach that consisted of concrete pavement patching, dowel bar retrofits, joint-sawing and sealing, and diamond grinding.

Contractually, OTA only allowed 170 calendar days to complete the project and would not permit any full interstate shutdowns. To adhere to these requirements, ESS crews worked around the clock. At peak production, ESS had 45 crew members working on site.

Throughout the 16-mile project corridor, there were only two exit ramps on far ends of the project. This created an hour of turn-around time for material deliveries. To minimize the impacts from extended material delivery times, ESS designed a slot-cutting saw that helped crews speed production and regain efficiency. ESS also utilized three volumetric mixers enabling the team to pour concrete at any time of the day, eliminating plant opening costs. Additionally, the team created multiple laydown yards throughout the 16-mile corridor so access to materials was readily available.

The majority of the project work took place during the summer season. With safety top of mind, the team was required to balance an accelerated schedule, hot weather conditions, and a highly-trafficked highway. ESS developed a robust traffic control plan that protected both the safety of the crews and the traveling public. To battle the hot weather, team members on site continuously altered shifts to protect them from the mid-summer heat.

ESS is proud to say our quality work on this project extended the road's service life for 15 more years, and at a reduced cost compared to installing a new road. The Oklahoma/Arkansas Chapter of the ACPA recognized our team's efforts by awarding ESS as the Gold Winner - Concrete Paving Award in the Concrete Highway Restoration category.