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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

The October/November 2024 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), recognized the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.

The Colorado Department of Transportation was lauded for its commitment to working with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms and implementing open-ended DBE performance plans, while the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Highway Construction Skills Training Program was praised for its efforts to build a diverse workforce through innovative recruitment and training initiatives.

California, Texas, Virginia and Utah DOTs were all recognized for their innovative pavement solutions. In California and Virginia, in-person workshops have helped to raise awareness of concrete overlays for asset management, while research conducted in Texas showed that asphalt overlays with crack-attenuating mix may reduce reflective cracking and slow the cracking process significantly. Utah used a highly modified asphalt overlay on a high-volume weigh station, potentially adding five more years to the pavement’s service life.   

Finally, Maine DOT was noted for its use of smarter work zone technologies that allow the agency to collect traffic data in real time and keep drivers informed.

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

Image source: FHWA

Maintaining the vegetation along highway roadsides and medians is critical, but can be labor-intensive and hazardous work. Autonomous mowers have become more sophisticated and widely available in recent years and offer to reduce worker exposure and improve safety.

To learn just how safe, easy to use, and effective these remote-control mowers really are, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) conducted a research study to evaluate autonomous equipment in the field. The agency’s new video summarizes the project and Caltrans’ efforts to advance innovations in maintenance.

Watch the video and learn more about the research: Investigating Teleoperated Equipment for Use in Caltrans Operations, May 2024.

Image source: Caltrans