Home » Construction and Maintenance Practices
This research would result in guidelines for the design of check dams for stormwater treatment in the roadside clear zone to maximize the retention and filtration of roadway runoff and
TERI Administrator Note: Based on a February 2008 review by Center staff, the write up for this idea needs additional review, clarification, or rewriting. Throughout the country, many departments and
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. This project will facilitate state DOT peer exchanges using the current volume of The Compendium
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Funded under NCHRP 25-25 (51) Problem Statement State departments of transportation have constructed many environmental mitigation projects in conjunction with transportation projects that have been
Problem Statement: To maintain the highway infrastructure, right-of-way and their functions, many operations including snow and ice control, paving/patching, surface sealing, traffic marking and vegetation management may use chemical
Problem Statement: Many facilities required in transportation operations and maintenance have evolved to the present by expansion, modification, and adaptation of design and materials common to several years ago. At
Highway safety often focuses on stationary barriers. Environmental quality can be enhanced through ‘green’ guardrails and use of natural grasses and wildflowers in place of mowing.
Problem Statement: Currently there is no basic methodology to predict soil loss or recommend erosion and sediment control measures specifically for highway projects. Lack of a methodology impairs the ability
Problem Statement: When a gravel or native-surfaced road is paved, we do not know the effects of increased offsite soil erosion due to increase surface runoff. Proposed Research: It
TERI Database Administrator Notes. Not recommended at present time by 2009 Natural Systems Subcommittee. Problem Statement: State DOTs are increasingly involved in making decisions regarding the reuse of wastes and
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits work on bridges and CBCs when active swallow nests are present. Controls to prevent nesting swallows on bridges and concrete box culverts not only
Environmental regulations require Departments of Transportation (DOTs) to stabilize exposed earth along roadsides and encourage the establishment of grasses to help filter pollutants out of runoff. To comply with these regulations,
I. Research Problem Statement For years non-selective, residual herbicides were used to keep the roadsides at the edge of the pavement free of vegetation. These areas, sometime referred to as
TERI Administrator Note (Feb 2009): Related Research: Impacts of Magnesium Chloride-Based Deicers on Roadside Vegetation; Transportation Research E-Circular Number E-C126 June 2008 – Surface Transportation Weather and Snow Removal and
TERI Database Administrator Notes: Funded as NCHRP Project 25-25 (46) “Compendium of Best Practices for Environmental Compliance and Stewardship at Transportation Maintenance Facilities” Background: All transportation agencies are involved with
One of the procedures used to reduce the disposal of asphalt and concrete pavement is to perform small pavement cuts and utilize the excavated pavement sections during the restoration process.
PennDOT has developed material specifications on Recycled Concrete Aggregates (RCA) in an effort to expand the use of recycled materials in highway and maintenance applications. The specifications were developed from
The design and installation of road stream crossings to accommodate fish and aquatic live passage is becoming a priority for state and federal regulatory agencies. State and municipal project designers
Petroleum Bulk Storage (PBS) is a necessary component of every State DOT’s operations. DOTs maintain large fleets of vehicles and equipment that must be fueled and maintained. However, the regulatory
I. Research Problem Statement Today, now more than ever, the environment plays a key role in everyday activities. Some cities have smog warnings, some have water pollution warnings, and
Problem: Public agencies often utilize deicing chemicals to help achieve safe winter driving conditions. Beyond solid chemicals, these include liquids applied directly to the road or used to pre-wet solid
Research problem statement – Cured in place (CIP) pipe replacement can have severe environmental effects on workers as well as aquatic resources because of the use of the toxic styrene.
Run cars and trucks containing crash dummies off simulated highways into tall native herbaceous vegetation within the clear zone, masses of native shrubs within the clear zone and into low
Departments of Transportation (DOTs) throughout the United States are responsible for keeping state and federally owned/operated transportation corridors safe and operational during winter months when snow and ice can accumulate
This would build on the existing work at SECREF and expand to include the full array of turbidity control systems (passive, infiltration, active). New systems, which are being developed and
For small projects (paving projects), or even highway.
Problem Common roadway construction practices impact our environment. Impacts to streams and rivers have been monitored and are considered in the design and construction process. Efforts have been made to reduce other
PROBLEM STATEMENT It is well established that structures associated with road crossings may have negative impacts on stream fish assemblages. The two primary mechanisms through which road crossings may impact
Scope: The State of North Carolina is seriously considering allowing natural gas exploration and development. Potential gas resources are of the kind that will be exploited using hydraulic fracturing drilling methods
Scope: Information from the Every Day Counts (EDC) project indicates that there is currently not enough information about re-cycles asphalt to determine how it fits into the program long term. A
Scope: Many states are currently investigating the feasibility of hyraulic fracturing. IN addition to the untold environmental impacts, states are experiencing major road damage due to the size, weight and
With the advent of the Marine Protection Act, new construction methods are necessary to reduce the underwater noise impacts to mammals. This research would examine alternative construction practices to reduce noise.
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT In recent years, coal-fired power plants are more frequently utilizing air pollution control technologies that result in fly ash with elevated concentrations of ammonia (referred to herein
Identify and test technologies promising “dust-free” environments. Suggested technologies include water-blasting and abrasive blasting with sponge/grit.
Michigan DOT is currently running a pilot testing LiDAR as an efficient way to add data on engineered structures to the state’s asset management system. Meanwhile, the Missouri Resource Assessment
Automated on-site data collection, GPS/AVL on maintenance vehicles to collect time and material information on maintaining individual BMPs, and national higher resolution datasets coming online are all trends that may
Policies are needed to fund transportation infrastructure upgrades to avoid catastrophic costs and risks. However, while transportation experts see these costs and risks as significant, members of the general public
More and more DOTs are developing pilot “showcase” projects on LEED certification of rest areas and oather facilities. Illinois DOT invested in research on the most efficient, cost-effective ways to
Given the tight budget times, DOTs are often not in a position to make further investments in environmental areas, but some environmental practices generate other efficiencies for DOTs. These co-benefits
With the 2012 listing of the Atlantic Shortnose Sturgeon to the threatened and endangered species list the Virginia Department of Transportation has had to produce two noise analyses for a
Traditionally, the main priority of winter road maintenance has been assigned to level of service, cost-effectiveness, and infrastructure corrosion rather than other less well-characterized effects such as impacts to water
This research will develop the design for a prototype robotic sweeper sweep/collect trash along mainline highway segments. The research should produce the following: 1. Design of a self driving sweeper
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of smartphone sensors for automatically assessing the roughness of pavement and then efficiently managing the pavement network. By developing appropriate
Roadside fires are increasing in many parts of the US, partially amplified by climate change and increased traffic volumes as well as stress on maintenance budgets. Wildfire prevention and response
Your one stop source of environmental information for transportation professionals.