JCPenney Parking Lot, Hanes Mall
Full-depth reclamation (FDR) with portland cement was the clear choice in the recent rehabilitation of a 15,000 square yard parking area at the Hanes Mall of Winston Salem, North Carolina. In need of a facelift, the parking area of JCPenney underwent a transformation just in time for the holiday season.
The parking area, consisting of severely cracked and oxidized asphalt surfacing, was in desperate need of repair. A regional office of Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI) located in Charlotte, North Carolina decided to include FDR in the contract bid as an alternate to the traditional “remove and replace” base reconstruction of the JCPenney parking area. A 2-inch asphalt surface course would provide the riding surface.
The FDR was designed for a 40 pounds per square (yardlbs/yd2) portland cement application rate to a depth of 12 inches. When bids were opened, full-depht reclamation was the “clear choice due to its overwhelmingly lower bid and shorter construction schedule compared to the complete reconstruction option” said Don Brown, Project Manager for PSI. The project was awarded to Thompson Arthur Paving of Greensboro, North Carolina, who selected Propst Construction of Concord, North Carolina, to perform the FDR work.
Construction work began on September 17, 2007, with the complete pulverization of the parking lot using a CMI-Terex RS-425B. After complete pulverization, a small amount of material was removed to accommodate the new specified grade elevation after placement of the 2-inch asphalt surface. Portland cement was incorporated across the area for the next four days with a total of 300 tons being utilized.
Proper density and moisture levels were ensured through a quality control (QC) testing and inspection program by PSI with no problems reported. With the expectation of needed parking for the weekend, Thompson Arthur Paving began surfacing operations on Friday, September 21, after successful proof-rolling was performed the day before on approximately one-half of the reclaimed area. Even though the area had only a two- to three-day cure, no sign of movement was reported under the fully loaded tandem axle water truck used for proof-rolling. Further adding to the observed stability of the FDR, no observed damage to the full-depth reclamation section occurred when a 50-ton crane sat on jacks for several hours while repairing a malfunctioning high-mast light. Paving was completed the following Monday after successful proof-rolling operations of the remaining unpaved reclaimed section.
With a lower cost and timely construction schedule, FDR provided JCPenney an alternative rehabilitation technique for a deteriorated parking area. Holiday seasons for years to come will now have the support of a strong and durable base created through FDR with portland cement.