Highway failures not only cause traffic delays but also pose serious safety risks. Thorough testing helps identify weak zones, ensures compliance with design standards, and ultimately saves time and cost on future maintenance. In India, government bodies like MoRTH, NHAI, and state PWDs have laid down detailed specifications for testing roads condition before declaring them open to traffic. Here are some important tests on newly constructed roads and Highways

1. Important Tests on Newly
Constructed Roads and
Highways
Ensuring Quality, Safety & Longevity

2. Why Road Testing is Important
◦ Guarantees durability and long-term performance
◦ Prevents premature failures and accidents
◦ Ensures compliance with design and safety standards
◦ Mandatory for roads and highway testing in India

3. Falling Weight Deflectometer
(FWD)
◦ Purpose: Tests structural strength of
pavement
◦ Working: Simulates vehicle load by
dropping weight
◦ Application: Identifies weak spots,
used for overlay design

4. Benkelman Beam Deflection Test
◦ Purpose: Measures rebound
deflection in flexible pavements
◦ Working: Beam with dial gauge
placed under standard truck
◦ Application: Common for overlay
design and flexible roads

5. ◦ Purpose: Assesses riding quality and
surface roughness
◦ Working: Vehicle-mounted device
records vertical movement
◦ Application: Used to calculate
International Roughness Index (IRI)
Bump Integrator Test

6. Skid Resistance Test
• Purpose: Ensures road friction to
prevent skidding
• Working: British Pendulum Tester
measures energy loss
• Application: Important at curves,
slopes, toll zones

7. Retroreflectivity Test
• Purpose: Tests visibility of road
markings and signs
• Working: Retroreflectometer
measures light reflected to driver
• Application: Critical for night-time
driving safety

8. Retroreflectivity Test
• Purpose: Non-destructive pavement
analysis
• Working: Radar signals detect
thickness, voids, and defects
• Application: Used in expressways
and rapid assessments

9. Core Cutting Test
• Purpose: Verifies thickness and
sequence of bitumen layers
• Working: Core sample extracted
using coring machine
• Application: Confirms construction
as per design

10. Field Density & Compaction Test
• Purpose: Ensures proper compaction
of subgrade & pavement
• Working: Sand cone or nuclear
gauge methods
• Application: Prevents settlement
and structural failure

11. Dynamic Cone Penetration Test
• Purpose: Assesses soil and base layer
strength
• Working: Cone rod driven by
hammer; penetration recorded
• Application: Portable and effective
for rural sites

12. Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) System
• Purpose: Monitors vehicle loads
without stopping traffic
• Working: Sensors embedded in road
capture axle weights
• Application: Prevents overloading
and road damage

13. Other Supporting Tests
• Rumble Strip effectiveness
• Bridge Joint testing
• Drainage evaluation
• Slope stability (for hilly terrain)

14. • Quality testing is essential for long-lasting
roads
• Enhances user safety and comfort
• Mandatory for all major road projects in India
• Ensures roads are ready for heavy, long-term
use
Conclusion

15. For more info. contact
Aimil Ltd.
A-8, Mohan Co-operative Industrial Estate Mathura
Road, New Delhi - 110044
marcomleads@aimil.com
01161310200
https://www.aimil.com