To many drivers, construction along the west side of I-215 may seem like another seasonal traffic delay. For researchers at the University of Utah, however, the project represents an opportunity to study cutting-edge pavement technology with the potential to reshape how highways are built and maintained.

Last week, members of Dr. Romero’s research group visited the reconstruction site to observe the work firsthand and support ongoing research tied to the project.

What makes this reconstruction effort unique is the method engineers are using to rebuild the roadway. Instead of removing and replacing the existing pavement entirely, crews are using a process known as rubblization. This technique breaks the old pavement into smaller pieces, compacts the material, and reuses it as the foundation for the new roadway.

On top of this recycled base layer, engineers are placing a newly developed high-polymer asphalt mixture designed to create a pavement that is thinner, stronger, and more durable than conventional asphalt pavements. According to project engineers, the reconstructed roadway is expected to last at least twice as long as traditional pavement systems.

The research team—made up of Romero and his civil engineering Ph.D. mentees— has been tasked with evaluating the performance of the new pavement system under real-world traffic conditions. Researchers are instrumenting sections of the roadway to collect data and compare actual pavement responses with engineering design predictions.

The study will help engineers better understand how traffic loads affect pavement performance over time and could contribute to more accurate, efficient, and sustainable pavement design practices in the future.

“This project gives us the opportunity to connect advanced research directly to infrastructure that impacts thousands of people every day,” the team said.

As construction continues, the project serves as both a major transportation improvement and a living laboratory for the next generation of pavement engineering.

by Joe LaFata