U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) leaders recently honored the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for being a “model” for the country “in using state-of-the-art technologies” on highway projects.
Deputy Transportation Sec. Victor Mendez and Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau recognized the agency during PennDOT’s Innovation Showcase in Harrisburg.
“For many years, Pennsylvania has inspired other states with their transportation innovations,” Mendez says. “The PennDOT team is saving lives, saving time and saving money on roads throughout the state and motivating other states to do the same.”
PennDOT was cited for using on 500 miles of roadways the Safety Edge paving technique, which places a bevel on the edge of pavements that make vehicles less “susceptible” to road-departure crashes. Using a wedge-shaped shoe that acts as a screed attachment, PennDOT says “the edge of the roadway is paved to create a 30-degree angle rather than a vertical drop-off. This seemingly small change not only allows vehicles to return to the roadway smoothly and easily at higher speeds, it also creates a more durable edge that is less prone to cracking, deteriorating, and breaking off.”
The agency was also commended for using high-friction surface treatments on more than 200 high-risk curve and intersection locations.
PennDOT reports these two methods have help contribute to a 12-percent drop in fatal roadway departure crashes since 2010.
“One of the most effective ways to reduce crashes is to ensure that safety features are built in to the roads,” Nadeau says. “PennDOT is proving to the nation just how effective these low-cost elements can be in protecting drivers.”
