Virginia quieter pavement demonstration projects

The first stages of the development of a formal quieter pavement use guideline for Virginia are described. Chronicled are the selection of lower-noise pavement technologies (i.e., quieter pavement [QP]); development and construction of the first season (2011) of QP demonstration projects and evaluation tools and analysis being used to compare the performance of the alternative strategies. After one winter of service, the lower-noise asphalt technologies were measurably (2 dB or less) less noisy than the control surfaces were on average and noticeably (≥3 dB) more quiet in several specific cases. The quiet concrete technology, the Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS), maintained a readily noticeable (5 dB) noise advantage over the control concrete surface. Beyond tire-pavement noise, the QP technologies have a distinct advantage over the control surfaces when it had came to achieved ride quality. The NGCS was very smooth, and contractors earned incentives for ride quality with the quiet asphalt materials, including (and especially with) the materials that were placed at a 1-in. thickness. Although some wheelpath consolidation was evident in the texture data for the asphalt technologies, all of the QP surfaces were exhibiting excellent skid resistance and were receiving consistent recognition for good wet-weather service.