China has moved its national economy into a continuous upwardsand stable development stage since this country implemented economicreform and "open door to foreigners policy" in the mid-1980s.This has brought a good opportunity for booming its road constructionand improving highway transportation. Over the last 10 years,a large quantity of high graded highways or freeways has beenbuilt within the country. As a result, a significant change hasbeen made from backward traffic condition to a better highwaytransport facilities.

In order to meet the standards of high graded highways requiredby Ministry of Communications of China, we organized a researchgroup, consisting of many scientists and engineers from universities,highway research institutes and highway design agencies, to studythe design method of asphalt pavement at semi-rigid base conditions.Based on the study, the previous version of the Code of FlexiblePavement Design gf Highway, JTJO14-86, was revised and now itis renamed as Code of Asphalt Pavement Design of Highway, JTJ014-97.The new code will come into effect on the first of October, 1997.The key points and major contents of the new code is describedexplicitly.