Road Weather Management Program
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Best Practices for Road Weather Management Version 2.0

Title:

Developing a Design Policy to Improve Pavement Surface Characteristics

Abstract:

The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) routinely measures friction on State highways to assist with decision making associated with road maintenance management. The MDSHA uses the Friction Tester to monitor the micro-texture of the pavement aggregate during the service life of the pavement surface. Micro-texture is a measure of the degree of polishing of a road aggregate and is the main factor in determining the peak level of dry and wet friction provided by a pavement surface. The MDSHA is attempting to better understand surface frictional requirements at approach to pedestrian crossing, traffic lights, etc during wet weather and to establish minimum friction levels for different types of roadways based on accident data.

Source(s):

82nd Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, Maryland State Highway Administration

https://trid.trb.org/view/1211026

Date: 2003

Author:

Chelliah, Stephanos, Shah, Smith

Keywords:


Decision support
Pavement friction
Pavement condition
Safety

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