Missouri Identifies Tools and Methods to Monitor Active Landslides February 21, 2023 - Though moving slowly, an active landslide near Branson, Missouri presents an ongoing maintenance challenge to the four-lane highway nearby. To assess the land’s movement and predict future road maintenance needs, […]
Arizona Evaluates Pavement Surface Treatments February 14, 2023 - When it comes to preserving and extending the life of asphalt pavements, maintenance managers have a variety of surface treatment options to choose from. But as each treatment comes with different benefits and costs, choosing the most cost-effective option can be challenging.
Illinois Explores Feasibility of Self-Healing Materials for Pavement Repair February 8, 2023 - Asphalt roads are at risk of cracking and suffering other premature distresses because binders can become less effective with age. Concrete roads are also subject to cracks from shrinkage, fatigue and other issues.
As rejuvenators can help to restore the original properties of both types of pavements, the Illinois Department of Transportation initiated a research project to investigate whether capsules containing rejuvenating chemicals can be added to the pavement mixtures during construction, creating a self-healing process as the pavements crack and the capsules’ contents are released over time from within. The study also examined the possible benefits of embedding specific bacteria in concrete to promote mineral growth.
Webinar to Highlight Benefits of Safety Management Systems for Maintenance Worker Safety February 2, 2023 - Highway maintenance and field work requires a high level of management to ensure worker safety. Many state departments of transportation (DOTs) use an in-house-developed or vendor-provided safety management system to track and report incident data and identify effective mitigation strategies. To help DOTs across the country understand the various systems and tools in use, the National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) published Synthesis 591: Use of Safety Management Systems in Managing Highway Maintenance Worker Safety.
New Mexico Identifies Drought-Resistant Roadside Vegetation January 25, 2023 - Healthy vegetation along highway roadsides is critical for stabilizing soil after construction and minimizing dust and erosion. New Mexico’s increasingly dry climate and elevated temperatures has made finding and maintaining suitable plants a challenge.
To expand its list of viable options, the New Mexico Department of Transportation initiated a four-year research study to identify drought-resistant plants with deep root systems that establish quickly. The findings and recommended growing strategies can help transportation agencies with similar climates restore problem areas and enhance their revegetation efforts.
FHWA Recognizes Innovations from No Boundaries Members January 20, 2023 - The January/February 2023 issue of Innovator, the bimonthly newsletter of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), highlights the efforts of a number of No Boundaries member states.
Colorado DOT is featured for its commitment to restoring access and reconnection between communities in the Denver area as part of its Central 70 Project – the site of a No Boundaries technical visit in 2021. After more than 300 meetings with stakeholders and members of the public, the agency removed physical barriers and added sidewalks, lighting and other amenities to improve safety and mobility.
National Webinar to Discuss Smart Work Zone Technologies January 11, 2023 - Work zone safety for highway maintenance crews and road users alike is a top concern across the United States. To help states identify and implement technologies that improve safety, the National Highway Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) recently released Synthesis 587: Use of Smart Work Zone Technologies for Improving Work Zone Safety. The publication documents and reviews the challenges and practices state DOTs have found for putting a variety of smart work zone technologies to use.
To discuss the publication’s findings, as well as promising new technologies still on the horizon, NCHRP will host a webinar on February 7 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern.
FHWA Evaluates Strategies for Enhancing Road Sign Visibility January 4, 2023 - The current revision to the 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) offers a number of treatment options designed to make traffic signs eye-catching. However, the influence of these strategies on driver behavior required more study.
To learn the effectiveness of MUTCD-provided strategies like adding flashing beacons, colored flags and reflective strips, the FHWA partnered with three state DOTs to conduct field tests and observe drivers’ reactions. The results can help states identify effective treatments for a variety of sign types and locations.
Oregon Explores Opportunities for Improving Worker Safety During Work Zone Set-Up and Removal December 29, 2022 - Across the United States, statistics show that highway work zones rank among the most hazardous for workplace injuries and fatalities. Especially dangerous are the transitional periods before and after the work zone is established, when placement or removal of traffic control devices can cause driver confusion or distraction.
To find ways to make workers safer in work zones, the Oregon Department of Transportation launched a multi-phase research project. In the first phase, the agency investigated other states’ practices for setting up and removing temporary work zones. Future phases will explore which aspects of work zone transitions are most hazardous and identify potential recommendations to improve worker safety.
Nebraska Evaluates Application and Performance of Sealant on Concrete Barriers December 21, 2022 - In 2013, the Nebraska Department of Transportation (then the Department of Roads) applied penetrating concrete sealer (PCS) to the concrete median barriers along three of the state’s highways in an effort to mitigate deterioration. With additional concrete barriers scheduled for the same treatment in 2022, the agency sought to better understand the sealant’s effects, optimal application rates and whether surface preparation improves performance.
After power-washing a section of the barrier, maintenance crews applied PCS and compared the results with an unwashed and PCS-treated control section. Cores drilled from both sections showed that the sealer penetrated more deeply into the power-washed section, leading to new agency requirements for preparing and treating concrete median barriers along state highways.
Read the final report: Resealing Concrete Median Barriers With Penetrating Concrete Sealers, May 2022