News

Rumble strips milled into the centerline of a roadway provide an audible and vibratory alert when a driver crosses into oncoming traffic, reducing crashes and injuries. While rumble strips have an established record of increasing safety, pavements that have them are more likely to develop cracks.

To improve the performance of pavements with centerline rumble strips, the Oregon Department of Transportation initiated a research project to develop better installation methods as well as innovative maintenance strategies to reduce cracking and increase the long-term durability of these pavements.

Read the report: Centerline Rumble Strip Effects on Pavement Performance, June 2023

Image source: Federal Highway Administration

We featured older research results from Minnesota DOT yesterday;
here’s a newer research resource from MnDOT.

***

When applying new or replacement pavement markings, maintenance crews have a variety of issues to consider such as marking materials, surface type and location.

To help Minnesota’s state and local transportation agencies understand their options and make informed decisions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Local Road Research Board developed an online pavement marking decision tree.

View the Pavement Marking Decision Tree, April 2023

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

 

Illuminating highway signs, lights and traffic signals usually requires power from a commercial electrical grid. Remote areas, however, may not have access to this power source.

To better understand the costs and other considerations associated with solar-powered systems, the Minnesota Department of Transportation initiated a synthesis project to evaluate products and their effectiveness and costs, as well as a case study detailing a Minnesota county’s experiences with solar-powered traffic control devices.

Read the synthesis report: Highway Signing and Signal Lighting Using Solar Energy, April 2023

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Routinely inspecting and maintaining culverts are important for keeping infrastructure performing well. As part of a new statewide culvert management system, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) developed a culvert inspection and asset management manual, as well as an algorithm for predicting the maintenance and repair needs of the 47,000 culverts across the state.

The results will increase efficiency at UDOT as the agency manages its culvert system and prioritizes maintenance activities in the future.

Read the research project brief: Culvert Inspection Manual & Deterioration Curve Estimation, March 2023

Image source: Utah Department of Transportation

Of the many practices available to preserve asphalt pavement service life, crack filling and sealing treatments are among the most commonly used. Understanding which treatments are appropriate for different types of cracks, however, as well as best practices for applying the right treatment, can be challenging.

To help inform and simplify the decision-making process for its maintenance crews and other agencies, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Minnesota Local Road Research Board published a compilation of several technical documents and interviews with industry experts into an easy-to-use resource.

Read the report: Asphalt Crack Treatment FAQs and Technical Resources, March 2023

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Several No Boundaries member states are featured in the May/June 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Colorado, Missouri and Indiana DOTs are featured for their use of crowdsourced data to improve transportation system operations. In Colorado and Indiana, vehicle probe data can be used to automatically post and update travel times on dynamic message signs to give travelers real-time traffic and safety information. Missouri DOT uses reports from a free public app to identify potholes quickly and efficiently.

Homegrown innovations from Maine, Mississippi and Utah DOTs – included as part of the virtual STIC Showcase in February – are also highlighted in the issue. Maine DOT’s telescoping pole with a phone attachment allows bridge inspectors to conduct visual inspections without the need for heavy equipment and traffic control. In Mississippi, new smartphone apps help the agency to more easily manage the extensive data required to comply with the state’s stormwater inspection program. And Utah DOT’s saddle lift tool allows maintenance crews to repair barrier-mounted signs without the need for a crane and lane closures.

Finally, a roundup of state innovations include digital-as-builts that help the California Department of Transportation with asset management, a new planning and environmental linkages study that helps Connecticut DOT improve operational decision-making and reduce congestion, and drones equipped with LiDAR that allow Mississippi DOT to conduct land surveys more quickly and safely than with traditional methods.

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

Image source: FHWA