Development of a Pavement Management Strategy for Tomago Aluminium Smelter

This paper outlines the development of a site specific Pavement Management Strategy for Tomago Aluminium Company Pty. Ltd. (TAC). Existing pavement management strategies were found to be too general and more suited to public road systems, with TAC requiring an individually tailored, site specific study to be carried out. As a result the Pavement Evaluation Study incorporated new technologies adapted to the geotechnical field, such as Ground Penetrating Radar together with more common, standard geotechnical practices. Factual data obtained during the study was reported in a simplified format summarising existing road condition to aid TAC staff in prioritising areas requiring remedial work, based not only on existing pavement condition, but also dependant on the roads usage as part of the smelter operations. The majority of site roads within the smelter road network were found to be structurally sound, with poor road pavement conditions generally associated with ride comfort, roughness and road serviceability.