Katie Johnson

Earlier this month, California Department of Transportation’s Division of Research, Innovation and System Information (DRISI) presented an hour-long webinar on two recently initiated research studies related to highway maintenance.

The webinar featured presentations from both projects’ researchers, who discussed the goals and anticipated outcomes of their work.

First, Dr. Bahram Ravani from the University of California, Davis described how his team is developing a new maintenance prioritization tool, using project location, activity type and other considerations to determine risk. The tool is intended to improve highway workers’ safety while increasing the efficiency of maintenance work.

Next, Dr. Simon Bisrat, who manages the DRISI Environmental Impact Mitigation Research Program, described the cost-effective mitigation strategies that can be integrated with existing highway infrastructure to allow sensitive wildlife like amphibians and reptiles to cross safely.

Learn more about both projects by watching the recording on YouTube: Mitigating Safety Risks and Environmental Impacts, March 2022.

Image source: DRISI

The March/April 2022 issue of Innovator, the Federal Highway Administration’s bimonthly newsletter, showcased a number of exciting innovations from No Boundaries member states.

Connecticut and New York State DOTs were highlighted for their work to advance the use of ultra-high performance concrete for bridge repairs. Texas DOT won a 2021 National Roadway Safety Award for its Safety Scoring Tool, which uses predictive technology to show the outcomes of a project’s design before ground is even broken. And Colorado, Missouri and Texas DOTs were recognized for their use of State Transportation Innovation Council funds for a wide array of time- and cost-saving initiatives.

Sign up to get the next issue of Innovator delivered to your inbox.

Image source: FHWA

The Transportation Research Board will host the virtual webinar, “How Rough is Your Pavement? Measuring Pavement Profiles for Low-Speed Roads” on Tuesday, March 22 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern.

States are required to calculate road roughness as part of the federal Highway Performance Monitoring System, but unique features of low-speed and urban roads can make these difficult to assess. To help states with their estimates, this program will discuss the challenges and best practices for collecting accurate data.

Learn more and register.

Image source: Federal Highway Administration

To help restore the state’s native ecosystems and pollinator habitats, the Tennessee Department of Transportation initiated a research project to plot a roadmap for short- and long-term conservation along the state’s highways.

Researchers located and documented remnants of grasslands in the right of way, identified maintenance strategies for these sensitive areas and installed a highly visible prairie restoration project to increase public awareness.

Read the report: Developing a Plan to Restore and Enhance Native Habitats for Pollinators Along Tennessee’s Interstate and Highway Systems, September 2021

Image source: Tennessee Department of Transportation

Given Ohio’s significant recycled asphalt pavement stockpiles, the Ohio Department of Transportation wanted to determine whether the supply could be used in place of traditional virgin aggregates for chip seals and other pavement preservation techniques.

Researchers developed custom mix designs and tested the mixes’ performance in the field. They found that recycled content can be a suitable alternative to new materials, and may save costs as well as conserve natural resources.

Read the report: Design of Microsurfacing and Chip Seal Mixes with RAP for Local Roadway Application, August 2021.

Image source: Ohio Department of Transportation