I-90 east of Moorcroft scheduled for rehab

A five-mile section of I-90 east of Moorcroft is scheduled to be rehabilitated utilizing the Cold-in-Place (CIR) recycling technique, beginning in the next few weeks. Preliminary preparations of the interstate between mile marker 160 and 155 have begun.

Once the cross-overs at either end of the job are in place, traffic will be switched to one-lane. Speeds will be reduced to 65 mph through the construction zone and 45 mph at the bridges.

CIR recycling is a method of removing and reusing the existing asphalt surface. It involves grinding off the top two to five inches of the existing asphalt surface and mixing the crushed asphalt with an asphalt recycling agent, and placing it back down with a paver.

The cold-in-place process is typically performed using a “train” of equipment which includes an emulsion tanker, milling machine, a crusher and a screen, an asphalt paver and a combination of pneumatic and vibratory rollers. Once the CIR process is complete, contractors will add a final chip seal layer to the roadway, which acts as an additional layer of traction and extends the life of the roadway.

“This technique works well to correct deep rutting, fatigue, and cracking that cannot be addressed with a typical overlay.” said Preston Beckstead, WYDOT resident engineer out of Sundance.

“Minor corrections can be made to the roadway, minimizing costs, length and project and decreasing the minor inconveniences to traffic.”

According to an FHWA study findings for New York State, a “CIR (4)” with a 1.5 inch overlay is expected to last 10-15 years with little maintenance as compared to a 5-8 year life of a traditional 1.5 inch overlay.

In addition to the CIR, contractors will be lining culverts and performing minor bridge repairs.

This project is scheduled to start as soon as the weather allows and is projected to be completed by July.