General Motors Milford Proving Ground Active Safety Test Area

The Challenge

The active safety test area in Milford is an 80-acre vehicle test track facility. The development of this new facility had to include the demolition of an existing obsolete track facility and the designing of a state-of-the-art test facility. The project consisted of several key testing areas:

• 160m x 400m dynamics pad with a constant slope and specified ride quality
• Advanced park assist facility with various types and sizes of parking spaces, turning movements and pedestrian crossing simulations
• New facility building with vehicle work bays, a traffic control center and offices on the upper floor
• Simulated tunnel structure with variable heights and widths
• Simulated freeway ramps and intersections
• 3,600-foot-long, 6-lane straightaway with various pavement markings and guardrail types to simulate roads throughout the United States and several foreign countries

The Approach

PEA Group prepared detailed engineering plans and specifications that included the following design work:

• Geometric layout of the above-noted facilities to meet specific National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing requirements
• Detailed grading of the entire site to meet specific ride quality requirements
• Coordination with subconsultants on the design of the building system and simulated tunnel
• Stormwater management and soil erosion control to meet Livingston County and Brighton Township standards

The Results

By working closely with end users, we were able to develop a design that meets stringent vehicle testing requirements, including international specifications and foreign country pavement markings. We also worked with the contractor throughout construction to address any construction issues and ensure conformance with the design specifications.