Use of remediated petroleum contaminated soils in highway construction

Jay N. Meegoda, Robert T. Mueller, Frank Palise

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Petroleum products from leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) contaminate soil and have the potential to contaminate groundwater. Removal and proper disposal of petroleum contaminated soils (PCSs) are legally required to prevent further contamination of groundwater. Excavated PCSs from leaking UST can be used in highway industry as construction materials. In this study, a base course of a two lane highway with heavy vehicular traffic was designed and constructed with 17,000 tons of hot mix asphalt concrete made with remediated petroleum contaminated soils. A design mix containing remediated PCSs was obtained and evaluated for suitability by testing the Marshall stability, durability and permeability. The performance of the highway pavement was evaluated immediately after construction and one year later using a heavy weight deflectometer. The heavy weight deflectometer results showed that the mechanical performance of HMA with remediated PCSs was comparable to that without PCSs. Both full-scale field and laboratory tests proved that remediated PCSs can be used in production and paving of hot mix asphalt concrete. On the basis of the test results presented herein, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has modified the 1989 standard specification to include up to 20% remediated PCSs in bituminous stabilized base courses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-16
Number of pages16
JournalGeotechnical Special Publication
Issue number59
StatePublished - 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Building and Construction
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

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