Caltrans completes $8.7M project to repair State Route 14

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced the completion of the Freeman III Project, an $8.7 million State Route 14 project that repaired 15 lane miles of pavement stretching from Red Rock Canyon Road to the Freeman Gulch Bridge.

The project was fully funded by Senate Bill 1, or the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.

As reported by the Mojave Desert News, a California City, California-based newspaper, the project’s contractor, Brea, California-based Griffith Co., used a sustainable partial depth recycling (PDR) technique, which supports Caltrans’ goal of leading climate action by recycling existing pavement.

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During the PDR process, crews dug out current road material in localized sections and recycled it, combining the material with hot mix asphalt (HMA). The HMA was then reapplied to the excavated areas. Crews then laid a 2 ½-inch layer of rubberized hot mix asphalt on top of the PDR to restore the high-quality ride and serviceability of the existing roadway.

The project also upgraded traffic signs, added rumble strips and placed shoulder backing through the entire project area, reports the Mojave Desert News.

“Safety is always Caltrans’ highest priority,” says Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “The restoration and enhancements on State Route 14 will improve safety through increased ride quality, smoother road-to-shoulder transitions and heightened driver attention while utilizing environmentally friendly techniques that honor our commitment to mitigating the effects of climate change.”

S.B. 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually shared equally between the state and local agencies. According to Caltrans, road projects progress through construction phases more quickly thanks to the availability of S.B. 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by S.B. 1.