United States Department of Transportation
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Edition:Final report.
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Abstract:The use of rumble strips in pavement to reduce run-off-road accidents is relatively new. In New Hampshire, these installations began in the mid to
late 1990s. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation performed its first overlay of rumble strips in Nashua on its Central Turnpike during
the 2003 construction season. The rumbles immediately reflected through the one-inch overlay, raising concerns over whether these features
should receive special preparation.
A national materials list-serve was used to solicit the practices of other state and provincial agencies. Eighteen respondents indicated a range of
opinion from grinding the strip and shimming before paving, to doing nothing provided the strip is less than a ½-inch deep and the overlay is more
than 4 inches. The opinions appeared to be based on general paving experience rather than knowledge about this specific condition. An additional
17 respondents either had no opinion, or did not install rumble strips. We concluded that there was no conventional method for overlaying rumble
strips.
This research project was launched with the objective of developing appropriate techniques, sequences and/or options to perform the preparation
and overlay operation successfully and economically. Rumble strip pavement performance within the study area demonstrated that the simplest
and least costly method produced a durable pavement and replacement rumble strip, but other problems related to thin lift overlays during
subsequent paving seasons eventually lead to a specification requiring the preparation treatment needing the greatest effort.
For the 2010 season, NHDOT elected to require that all rumbles be milled and inlayed prior to placement of the overlay. The inlay technique has
been successfully used without overlay for removal of rumble strips to create temporary traffic detours.
At the time of this report, contractors have developed the tools and techniques needed to install the 20-inch wide inlay with reasonable efficiency,
such that it is not the laborious, hand-work operation that it was during the test site construction in 2005. A new bid item has been added to the
construction contracts that provide for an intermediate bid price that is neither full-lane machine method, nor high cost handwork. The item includes
the rumble milling and replacement inlay.
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