Katie Johnson

Paving a parking lot or other area with porous asphalt can be an environmentally friendly solution for absorbing and filtering excess stormwater, but proper maintenance is important to ensure the pavement remains permeable over time.

To help keep the surface unclogged and free of debris, the Vermont Agency of Transportation initiated a research project that identified effective cleaning strategies and a routine maintenance schedule for the state’s porous asphalt pavements.

Read the report: Maintenance and Performance Study of Porous Asphalt in Northern Climates at the Randolph Park & Ride, November 2024.

Image source: Vermont Agency of Transportation

Effectively managing a state’s roads, bridges and other transportation assets is a complex endeavor that requires balancing the costs and benefits of a variety of maintenance strategies and prioritizing the state’s investments.  

To help maintenance managers consider the full life cycle of their state’s assets, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Transportation Asset Management community will host webinar 74: Life Cycle Planning, on April 16 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

View details and register.

Image source: National Asphalt Pavement Association

Roadside litter is unattractive and can create hazardous driving conditions. Cleaning up the trash and debris is important, but tasking the state’s highway maintenance crews with the work can be burdensome and cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.  

Recent research conducted by the Utah Department of Transportation found that the general public contributes a substantial proportion of the litter that’s found along the state’s roadsides. To combat the problem, a new research project developed several outreach campaigns to help educate Utah residents and small contractors on the importance of properly securing items to vehicles traveling along state highways.

Read the report: Utah Roadside Litter Solutions, December 2024

Image source: Utah DOT

Chip seals are a cost-effective and often-used strategy for maintaining and preserving pavements.

To ensure that the chip seal treatments applied on the state’s highways perform well and last a long time, the Oregon Department of Transportation initiated a research study to identify tests that can be performed during the application process. The project’s findings will help the agency enhance its chip seal procedures and maximize its maintenance investments.   

Read the report: Development of Procedures and Technologies for Chip Seal Construction Quality Control in Oregon, February 2025.

Image source: Oregon Department of Transportation

Roadsides planted with greenery can help control and filter stormwater, soil leftover from road construction often lacks permeability and inhibits plant growth.

To improve soil conditions along the state’s roads and identify a use for locally available industrial by-products, the Minnesota Department of Transportation evaluated nine granular and organic additives.  

The project produced a design guide and recommendations for maximizing biofiltration and plant growth.

Read the two-page research summary: Reusing Local By-Products to Create Sustainable Roadside Soil, October 2024.

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation