This study outlines the effectiveness of dowel bar retrofit (DBR) as a concrete pavement preservation tool. DBR restores load transfer across joints and cracks by installing dowel bars to link adjoining slabs. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) pioneered this method in 1992 and has since widely adopted it due to its success. The study highlights DBR’s long-lasting benefits, environmental friendliness, traffic efficiency, flexibility, ease of bidding, and cost-effectiveness.

When diamond grinding concrete highways, water used to cool cutting blades combines with hardened cement paste and aggregate particulates, generating a byproduct known as concrete grinding residue (CGR), or slurry. Years of research demonstrate that proper application on roadway shoulders is safe. CGR slurry with 13 percent to 28 percent ECCE (up to 40 dry tons/acre) had no negative effects when deposited on the roadside.

Many states limit how much concrete grinding residue (CGR), also known as slurry, can be discharged along the roadside during the diamond grinding process. A recent study conducted by the Institute of Transportation at Iowa State University on behalf of MnDOT confirms CGR slurry is safe and even beneficial to deposit along roadsides during diamond grinding operations.

Concrete pavements can achieve maximum longevity through diamond grinding. Conventional diamond grinding (CDG) is often used to create the smoothest and safest pavements available today. The best approach, both short- and long-term, is to achieve a balance between high friction level and low roughness and noise levels over the life of the pavement.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has implemented Dowel Bar Retrofit (DBR) on more than 300 lane miles since 1993 to combat aging concrete pavements. The process includes diamond grinding and joint resealing, proving cost-effective for long-term pavement preservation.

Concrete pavements can achieve maximum longevity using strategic repair techniques. Today's urban streets have, in many cases, encountered 40 to 60 years of wear and tear. Concrete Pavement Preservation (CPP) is a series of engineered techniques to rehabilitate concrete pavement. It is a viable alternative to costly asphalt overlays. Basic CPP techniques include: slab stabilization, full depth repair, partial depth repair, dowel bar retrofit, cross-stitching longitudinal cracks or joints, diamond grinding, joint resealing and crack resealing.