The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) implemented a geosynthetic-reinforced asphalt overlay design to rehabilitate a 16 km stretch of State Highway 21 (SH21) in Bastrop County. This approach was chosen due to the roadway’s distress caused by highly plastic subgrade soil and heavy truck traffic. The solution involved using HaTelit C40/17, a polymeric geocomposite interlayer manufactured by HUESKER Inc., which allowed for a reduced asphalt overlay thickness of 75 mm instead of the traditional 125 mm. The construction process included applying a tack coat, installing the geocomposite interlayer, and laying the asphalt overlay. Completed in Summer 2022, the rehabilitated roadway has shown excellent performance with no distress or maintenance needs as of May 2025. A sustainability analysis revealed that this method reduced carbon emissions by approximately 32.4% compared to conventional designs, while a cost-benefit analysis showed a 33% reduction in material production costs. This demonstrates that geosynthetic reinforcement is both sustainable and cost-effective.
— new from Geosynthetics Magazine
