Katie Johnson

Creating and preserving pollinator habitats along highway roadsides can increase the beauty and biodiversity of these public spaces while simultaneously reducing the need for maintenance and minimizing stormwater runoff and erosion.  

To help transportation agencies recognize and maximize the benefits of pollinator conservation efforts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Federal Highway Administration will host a three-hour virtual workshop on December 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central.

Learn more and register.

Image source: Georgia Department of Transportation

Work zone safety for highway maintenance crews – and all road users – is a high priority for transportation agencies across the United States.

To help reduce the risks, the South Carolina Department of Transportation conducted a research project that produced a tool for assessing the crash risks at work zones and determining the costs and benefits of a variety of countermeasures.

Read the report: Reducing Crash Risk at Work Zones in South Carolina, June 2024.

Image source: South Carolina DOT

Highly visible and reflective pavement markings are important for highway safety, providing helpful navigation to drivers in all types of weather. However, maintaining these markings can be labor-intensive and time-consuming.

To determine whether an automated pavement restriping system would be more efficient and cost-effective than its current manual process, the Kansas Department of Transportation conducted a research study that compared the estimated life-cycle costs of both methods.

Read the summary report: Effectiveness of Automated Pavement Restriping Systems, Phase I: Cost Comparison Between Manual and Automated Systems, September 2024

Image courtesy of Kansas DOT

Maintenance equipment that comes into contact with deicing chemicals can quickly become corroded.

Agencies across the country employ a variety of strategies for preventing or minimizing the damage, and in 2015 the Clear Roads winter maintenance pooled fund (TPF-5(479)) compiled this information in its Manual of Best Practices for preventing corrosion on highway maintenance equipment.

Since the manual’s publication, new products have become available on the market and many agencies have updated their guidance. In response, Clear Roads initiated a new research project to expand and update the manual, giving agencies more up-to-date tools and resources for comparing and selecting the right deicers for their needs.

Read the two-page brief: Best Practices for Protecting DOT Equipment from the Corrosion Effect of Chemical Deicers, August 2024.

Removing graffiti from transportation infrastructure is an important maintenance task. However, addressing these unwanted markings can require a significant investment in agency time and resources.

To inform the state’s response to cleaning graffiti, the Illinois Department of Transportation conducted a research study into the various anti-graffiti coatings and removal techniques used by other states across the Midwest. The recommendations and flow charts developed in this study can help agencies identify cost-effective solutions for different surface types.

Read the final report: Anti-Graffiti Protection Systems, October 2024.

Image source: National Park Service