NDOT works to improve roadway safety with high-friction surface treatment
The Nebraska Department of Transportation is working to make a stretch of the interstate safer for drivers. Construction crews are applying a high friction surface treatment to the eastbound I-80/680 interchange. NDOT said the treatment is meant to help decrease the number of crashes in the area. According to NDOT, around 31 crashes occurred on this stretch of interstate between 2021 and 2022. NDOT engineer Barbara Gerbino-Bevins said many are people sliding or crashing into the medium walls. To prevent slides, NDOT is applying a high-friction surface treatment to the road, then adding an angular aggregate called calcined bauxite. “It makes the surface rougher, it doesn’t as traffic roles over it, it doesn’t round it off as quickly,” she said.It helps your tire stay on the road better. Lieutenant Jeremy Thorson with Nebraska State Patrol said inclement weather plays a huge role in these crashes. “Anything they can do to increase the friction on that roadway and keep cars on the road and in their lanes, we’re 100% in support of,” he said.He said the treatment could also be beneficial to law enforcement patrolling the interchange.”You see several times a year law enforcement getting slide into, whether they’re on a traffic stop or conducting scene security,” Thorson said.Bevins said NDOT has seen a reduction in sliding crashes in the areas the treatment has been used. NDOT also plans to apply the treatment going westbound on the interchange in the future. It said around 14 crashes happened on this stretch of interstate between 2021 and 2022. Bevins said while the treatment is supposed to last around 10 years, it’s lasted closer to five years. She said this could potentially be because of the weather and deicer used in Nebraska. She said NDOT plans to maintain the treatment in the areas it’s applied as necessary. The construction on I-80 eastbound is expected to last until the end of September. During this time, traffic is being rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp for the safety of construction workers. Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7
The Nebraska Department of Transportation is working to make a stretch of the interstate safer for drivers. Construction crews are applying a high friction surface treatment to the eastbound I-80/680 interchange. NDOT said the treatment is meant to help decrease the number of crashes in the area.
According to NDOT, around 31 crashes occurred on this stretch of interstate between 2021 and 2022.
NDOT engineer Barbara Gerbino-Bevins said many are people sliding or crashing into the medium walls.
To prevent slides, NDOT is applying a high-friction surface treatment to the road, then adding an angular aggregate called calcined bauxite.
“It makes the surface rougher, it doesn’t as traffic roles over it, it doesn’t round it off as quickly,” she said.
It helps your tire stay on the road better.
Lieutenant Jeremy Thorson with Nebraska State Patrol said inclement weather plays a huge role in these crashes.
“Anything they can do to increase the friction on that roadway and keep cars on the road and in their lanes, we’re 100% in support of,” he said.
He said the treatment could also be beneficial to law enforcement patrolling the interchange.
“You see several times a year law enforcement getting slide into, whether they’re on a traffic stop or conducting scene security,” Thorson said.
Bevins said NDOT has seen a reduction in sliding crashes in the areas the treatment has been used.
NDOT also plans to apply the treatment going westbound on the interchange in the future. It said around 14 crashes happened on this stretch of interstate between 2021 and 2022.
Bevins said while the treatment is supposed to last around 10 years, it’s lasted closer to five years. She said this could potentially be because of the weather and deicer used in Nebraska.
She said NDOT plans to maintain the treatment in the areas it’s applied as necessary.
The construction on I-80 eastbound is expected to last until the end of September. During this time, traffic is being rerouted to the L-I-Center bypass ramp for the safety of construction workers.
