Washington state has experienced increasingly frequent extreme events, including extreme temperatures, storms, sea-level rise, and wildfires. These events have adversely affected the performance and accessibility of the state’s road network, and their impacts are likely to continue in the future. For this project, researchers are developing tools to support the design and construction of more resilient pavement structures that can withstand extreme events or at least reduce pavement vulnerability, minimize damage, and decrease the frequency and cost of repairs to affected pavement assets. By improving pavement resilience and reducing vulnerability, the research is also expected to reduce WSDOT staff’s exposure to occupational hazards by minimizing the need for repair work and limiting their exposure to risks associated with extreme events.
Principal Investigator: Haifang Wen, Civil and Environmental Engineering, WSU
Sponsor: WSDOT
WSDOT Technical Monitor: Karen Carlie
WSDOT Project Coordinator: Shervin Jahangirnejad
Scheduled completion: January 2028