Over The Horizon

Pavement Project

Roads and pavements world-wide will be improved by research done jointly by Transit New Zealand, Industrial Research and the University of Canterbury.

The $1 million accelerated pavement testing project is part of an OECD-funded research programme studying the dynamic interaction of vehicles with roads and bridges. The overall aim of the programme is to reduce pavement wear by improvements to both vehicles and pavements.

Jim McMillan of Transit New Zealand says the main reason for the OECD's decision to come to New Zealand was the unique capability of the Christchurch testing facilities to produce realistic dynamic loads.

"CAPTIF -- the Canterbury Accelerated Pavement Testing Facility -- is the only testing facility of its kind able to realistically reproduce the condition of a vehicle travelling on the road," says McMillan.

The facility, which is owned by Transit New Zealand and operated by the University of Canterbury, consists of a 58-metre-long circular track contained in a moisture-controlled concrete tank. A central frame to which "vehicles" are connected rotates on the track. The vehicles can be fitted with a range of suspension technology from air through to steel suspensions.

The project will look at the impact of different heavy vehicle suspensions on a flexible pavement, similar to those in use in most OECD countries.