News

A two-phase study of Colorado DOT’s 27 agency-maintained rest areas seeks to identify how these facilities can complement existing privately owned facilities and ensure that travelers have amenities within a reasonable distance as they travel across the state. The Phase I report documents the study methodology and establishes a baseline for management decisions. The follow-up Phase II report will present specific recommendations.

Read the research report: Statewide Rest Area Study—Phase I Report, Inventory and Assessment, September 2018.

The Transportation Research Board will conduct a webinar on Wednesday, April 24, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time on microsurfacing and slurry seals. Presenters will discuss the use and construction of these pavement preservation techniques. They will also examine issues practitioners have encountered and discuss possible solutions.

Read the announcement: TRB Webinar: Building Better Micro Surfacing and Slurry Seals.

(Image courtesy of Seattle DOT.)

A researcher who noted the spread of the highly invasive Japanese knotweed in Vermont after Hurricane Irene continued his investigation into its detrimental effects. The plant spreads vegetatively—without seeds and through disruption—and thrives as it quickly kills groundcover and promotes erosion of banks, such as those along streams and roadways. This TRB conference presentation reveals the plant’s many destructive effects, including those relevant to transportation.

Read the presentation: Japanese Knotweed as a Driver of Streambank Erosion, January 2019.

Researchers for Michigan DOT developed a system to evaluate bridge decks at near-highway speeds. The vehicle-mounted 3D optical bridge evaluation system (3DOBS) uses GPS, a high-tech camera, and an inertial measurement unit to collect bridge deck imagery for inspectors’ use. The system will help bridge inspectors safely quantify deck distresses and optimize the timing of preservation treatments.

Read the research report: Evaluation of Bridge Deck Using Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) at Near Highway Speeds for Effective Asset Management, October 2018.

Researchers for Minnesota DOT tested different grass seed mixtures to determine their ability to survive harsh roadside environments: heat, salt and ice cover. For each stress test, investigators identified top-performing varieties; these will be further field-tested to determine the best mixtures to use along Minnesota roadsides.

Read the research report: Regional Optimization of Roadside Turfgrass Seed Mixtures, December 2018.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Culvert Management Manual provides guidelines for the inventory and inspection of conduits and structures with a span less than 10 feet measured parallel to the centerline of the highway. The manual provides a regular and systematic approach to aid inspectors as they evaluate these structures in order to perform routine maintenance for the continued safety of the driving public.

Read the manual: Ohio Department of Transportation Culvert Management Manual, September 2018.