I-90 Unbonded Overlay

The I-90 Unbonded Overlay project in southern Minnesota extends the life of the existing highway and enhances the user experience along this 20-mile segment. The existing pavement along this stretch of I-90 had deteriorated significantly resulting in poor ride quality and increasing maintenance efforts.

Reminiscent of the “Golden Spike” of the first transcontinental railroad, officials paved a small section of I-90’s pavement gold. In 2006, a maintenance project paved over the Golden Panels, removing this historic achievement. As part of this project, the Golden Panels were reconstructed in their original location near Blue Earth. The project significantly improves ride quality of the interstate by providing a new unbonded concrete overlay on the mainline lanes. It also improves interchange ramp pavements, two rest areas, repairs and replaces numerous culverts, and rehabilitation of some bridge elements.

This work was accomplished through a commitment to digital delivery with a control network common to both the design and construction phases of the project. This sole-sourced workflow developed by Alliant leveraged all the technology available resulting in the smoothest road possible. By maintaining a collaborative team environment, the successful project provides a better experience for the traveling public and the thousands of tons of freight traffic that passes through this region each year.