Pavement Surface Treatments for Ice-Prone Locations in the Illinois Highway System

Akin, Michelle; Zhang, Yan; Shi, Xianming

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/102160 Copy

Description

Title

Pavement Surface Treatments for Ice-Prone Locations in the Illinois Highway System

Author(s)

• Akin, Michelle
• Zhang, Yan
• Shi, Xianming

Issue Date

2018-11

Keyword(s)

• winter maintenance operation
• pavement surface treatment
• high friction surface treatment
• slow-release freezing point depressant storage pavement
• superhydrophobic coating

Abstract

This project aims to identify and evaluate effective and durable pavement surface treatments (PSTs) suitable for implementation at Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) ice-prone locations. A user-friendly questionnaire of northern states and international transportation agencies was developed to capture practitioner insights and collect more detailed information about the current practices of using PSTs for ice prevention. A comprehensive review of existing research and agency practices both nationally and internationally in using PSTs for icy/slippery pavement condition prevention was conducted. The review focused on built-in technologies such as the use of highly rough surface texture, slow-release freezing point depressant, or superhydrophobic additive in asphalt pavement, to identify candidate technologies for the project. PSTs have not been widely adopted by state or local agencies, even for select ice-prone locations. None of the PSTs identified and reviewed have demonstrated long-term success or significant enough potential for the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) Technical Review Panel to be comfortable with; as such, the project was wrapped up without further laboratory tests and life-cycle analyses. Some of these built-in PST technologies are promising but all of them, other than high friction surface treatment (HFST), are premature at this stage for any field deployment by Illinois. The major concerns stem from their high cost of implementation and potential lack of long-term durability as an effective anti-icing tool. IDOT should consider conducting traffic safety analyses of their high friction surface treatment (HFST) sites, including winter maintenance operations data and winter crash statistics.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-18-017

ISSN

0197-9191

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/102160

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-187

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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