University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

Akin, Michelle; Zhang, Yan; Shi, Xianming

Content Files
FHWA-ICT-18-017.pdf

Permalink

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

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
Date of Ingest
2018-12-12T17:17:22Z
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
Genre of Resource
Technical Report
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.

Owning Collections

Research and Publications - Illinois Center for Transportation PRIMARY