Breton Avenue Reconstruction - Grand Rapids, MI

Project Focus
This $1.72 million project reconstructed 0.54 miles of Breton Avenue in Grand Rapids, MI between 28th and 32nd streets, removing and replacing the existing roadway and widening from four lanes to five. This is a busy urban arterial carrying 28,000 vehicles per day. The 4,900 square yard 32nd street intersection was constructed using a 4-inch PCCP whitetopping with fiber reinforcement. The remainder of the project was constructed with 13,400 square yards of 10-inch non-reinforced PCCP on 12-inch sand subbase. The project was built in two phases, part width with traffic maintained adjacent to the work zone. Access to local businesses was maintained at all times.

Project Details
Construction & Innovation
Since the existing roadway was widened out along both sides, numerous utility poles had to be relocated. Even so, many problems remained since the poles, in most cases, were in the normal track path of the paver, and it was a real challenge to figure out how to pave with the least amount of gaps. Access was also complicated by active train tracks crossing within the job limits. There were, on average, four trains per day that passing through the project causing traffic backups not only for the motoring public, but also for ready mix trucks providing concrete to the paving operations. Many in-pavement manholes and other structures had to be paved around and then finished - a challenge to providing a smooth roadway.

Quality
A CMI model 350 paver was used to pave two 20-ft wide lanes and a Gomaco Commander III paver was used for the ten-ft center lane and the 4” whitetopping intersection work. Even though the specification smoothness was straight edge testing, the Contractor used a dual stringline control to improve ridability. A steady stream of Consumers Concrete Ready Mix trucks, maintaining uniformly the required consistency of slump for quality construction, supplied concrete. A contractor-requested change for curb and gutter to be placed integrally with the pavement also contributed to better quality and appearance. All strength, slump and air requirements of the 4800 psi concrete were met.

Schedule & Complexity
The entire project was completed on time from May 2004 - September 2004

The Breton/32nd intersection was closed for only seven days in each phase. The intersection was constructed in halves and the work was completed ahead of schedule in six days.

Public Relations
Meetings were held with the local businesses to explain the project and what cross roads and business driveways would be left open.