How can the City of Hamilton design better, cost-effective roads by comparing concrete, asphalt, and composite roads for the City's infrastructure?
Project Description: The City of Hamilton is evaluating the long-term benefits of different pavement cross sections enhance its infrastructure. The challenge is to compare the costs, durability, and sustainability of using concrete, composite, and asphalt pavements across various road projects. The City wants to understand the trade-offs in using each material, especially with soft subgrades, and incorporate modern solutions like geogrid technology to reduce excavation and improve soil stability. Additionally, the City aims to explore how the use of different pavement make ups can impact excess soil and the amount of excavation required to make structurally sound pavements. There is interest in how the Excess Soils Regulations (O.Reg 904/19) and the use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) can shape future road construction practices. The students work shall include analyzing data on current road conditions, replacement costs, and lifecycle assessments to recommend the best materials for different projects.
City Staff: Mitchell Knott, Public Works Department
Deliverables: Primary and Secondary Research
Project Partner: McMaster University
Location: City Wide
City Strategy Priority: Built Environment and Infrastructure