Longitudinal joints, created when lanes are paved sequentially, often need significant maintenance as the joints crack or deteriorate. While materials, construction methods and other factors may cause joint deterioration, insufficient pavement density is primarily responsible for weak joints, and measuring density has not traditionally been a widespread practice. New recommendations for joint construction and quick, nondestructive methods of measuring density during construction will support local agencies in laying longer-lasting pavement.
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Developing a Best Practices Manual for Roadway Drainage
Ineffective drainage can lead to expensive roadway damage and decrease a pavement’s service life. New guidance will help local agencies understand drainage issues unique to their areas and provide design considerations to mitigate pavement damage resulting from moisture.
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Improving Driver Yielding to Pedestrians at Intersections
Improving the rates of drivers yielding to pedestrians has been challenging despite crosswalk laws. Expanding on an earlier study, researchers further explored the effectiveness of engineering treatments at road crossings, giving agencies a deeper understanding of how to maximize pedestrian safety.
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Impact of Urban Speed Limit Changes on Driving Speeds
Speed limits are a popular safety measure used in urban areas. A new analysis that monitored driving speeds before and after posted changes to speed limits reveals lower speed limits may not, at least initially, cause drivers to slow down.
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Evaluating New Slurry and Plow Equipment
MnDOT maintenance practitioners and managers are always looking for new and better ways to handle winter weather. A recent evaluation of new products revealed which of several new pieces of high-potential winter maintenance equipment were appropriate for use on Minnesota highways. Just as importantly, the agency uncovered the shortcomings of other equipment, identifying critical issues to address before acquiring additional equipment.
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Increasing Support for Innovative Traffic Solutions
When a transportation innovation shows potential for significantly increasing safety, implementation may seem like the obvious next step. But without public support, a project can be met with resistance that results in delays, additional costs and a lost opportunity to save lives.
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Developing Smart Signs for Traffic Control in Work Zones
Providing traffic control in work zones is one of the highest risk jobs in the country. Flaggers are often considered the first line of defense against distracted, inattentive or aggressive motorists who may intrude into these work areas. A new, cost-effective system that tracks an oncoming vehicle’s trajectory can warn workers of an unsafe intrusion into the work zone and alert drivers to slow or stop.
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Refining the Lane Boundary Guidance System for Snowplow Operators
Snowplow operators work in difficult, often low-visibility conditions. A new system assists drivers in knowing their lane position and warns of approaching obstacles. After operators tested the system over two winters, researchers gathered feedback, revised the system and readied it for the next step in statewide deployment.
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Designing Pedestrian Safety Features for Year-Round Maintenance
Pedestrian safety countermeasures near roadways require year-round maintenance to be effective. Clearing snow and ice has not generally been a design consideration for safety treatments, but new research has identified specific design criteria to help MnDOT and other agencies keep walkways clear without impeding maintenance efforts.
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Improving and Expanding the Queue Warning System
Combining real-time traffic data, vehicle trajectories and computer algorithms allows queue warning systems to trigger traffic warnings on overhead message signs that alert drivers to congestion or crashes ahead. A recent study evaluated the warning system previously installed on a segment of Interstate 94 (I-94) and deployed the system in a second location, providing an improved understanding of its efficacy and considerations for expanding its use.
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