wisconsin adoption of mutcd affects work zones
TRANSCRIPT
WINTER 2005
http://tic.engr.wisc.edu
WISCONSIN DOT expectsto publish its Supplement tothe 2003 federal MUTCD(Manual on Uniform TrafficControl Devices) shortly afterthe beginning of 2005. Thatwill put the rules and guide-lines of the 2003 MUTCDinto effect in the state.
“There are almost 300changes in Part 6 of theManual, though the majorones don’t take effect for afew years,” says ConsultantDon Gordon. He teaches theTIC’s January Work Zone Safetyworkshop along with JimSchneider. They will cover thisyear’s changes, how to set upwork zones for common mainte-nance situations, and the basics offlagging. (See Calendar on backpage for times and locations.)
The MUTCD’s work zone guid-ance has been developed usingresearch on how people respondso they can understand, prepare,and react, Gordon says. To keepdrivers and workers safe, signs,flaggers, arrow panels, drums,cones, and other items need to: • command attention• have a clear simple meaning• give adequate time for
response“A lot of folks, especially county
highway departments, are doing agood job with work zones,” saysGordon. “But, way too often I seetrucks and workers in the publicright of way without proper sign-ing. Often it’s contractors doingwater or sewer or cable TV work.”
Unfortunately, there are no workzone police, he notes, and it’smunicipalities who will get sued if there’s an injury or death.
The TIC invites local officials and maintenance supervisors topublicize the Work Zone Safetyworkshop to their contractors,and encourage them to send arepresentative.
“If the timing isn’t convenient,or they want to train a lot of people, we can present the work-shop on their site,” says StevePudloski. He coordinates workzone programs for the TIC.
Changes for flaggers
Several changes in the MUTCDpertain to flaggers and otherworkers.
Illumination The Manualrequires that the flagger stationshall be illuminated with flood-lights when flagging takes placeduring hours of darkness, exceptin emergency situations. Street-lights and vehicle headlights do
not meet this standard, and thelights can’t be shining into theeyes of approaching drivers. “Wehave been training flaggers to usea flashlight,” says Gordon, “butthat does not meet the illumina-tion requirement.” This takeseffect when Wisconsin adopts the MUTCD in early 2005.
Stop/Slow paddles The newManual expands the options available for incorporating flashinglights into the Stop/Slow paddleto supplement the message. Itnow allows white or red flashinglights on the Stop side; white oryellow on the Slow side; andexpands the allowable patternsfor arranging lights on the paddle.
Safety vests It is now manda-tory for flaggers to wear apparelthat meets ANSI Class 2 standardfor the amount of reflective strip-ing and background material.Class 3 apparel should be consi-dered when flagging at night.Other workers exposed to trafficor construction equipment should(guidance) wear apparel thatmeets ANSI 107-1999 standard.
2 Patcher plugs potholes
2 Quick coupler hazard
4 New wood preservativecorrodes signs
5 Low-cost sign fixes makerural roads 41% safer
6 Winter maintenence tips
7 CDL reminders & changes
8 Pulverizing—a good fix
9 FAQs on WISLR & PASER
10 RESOURCES
11 Videos as training tools
12 CALENDAR
FAR LEFT Thenew MUTCDhas changesfor workzones andflaggers.LEFT Flaggersnow musthave ANSIstandardreflectivevests.
“Too often I
see trucks and
workers in the
public right of
way without
proper signing.”
Wisconsin adoption of MUTCD affects work zones
INSIDE
For readers unfamiliar with the MUTCD, information is presented as mandatory (a “shall” statement), strong guidance (a “should” statement), or suggested (optional; a “may” statement). MUTCD . . . continues on page 3
QUICK COUPLERS are handydevices that make it fast and easyto change the attachments onhydraulic excavators. Unfortunate-ly, a worker died last year inWisconsin, struck by a bucket thataccidentally released from a quickcoupler. A locking pin had notbeen manually installed to securethe connection.
An OSHA investigation revealed14 other accidents in the last sixyears where excavator bucketsunexpectedly released from quickcouplers. There were eight fatali-ties. Manufacturers recognized thehazard and redesigned the cou-plers. They also have providedusers with a retrofit locking pin.
Unintended releases continue,however, because some employersand contractors do not knowabout the hazard, some don’tinstall the locking pins, and someusers are not adequately trained
WINTER 20052
WHEN FREEZING, thawing,and traffic pound pavements fullof potholes, City of Beloit plugs them permanently. OperatorsNolan Garcia and Eligha Boatnerwave a wand over the damageand it’s gone in seconds. It’s notmagic, just the business end oftheir Wildcat spraypatch roadrepair machine.
The system is faster, safer, andless dependent on the weatherthan cold patching with a truckand shovel. “You’re not out therein the middle of traffic, carryingshovels full of material acrossintersections, then running themover with the truck,” says Garcia.
With a hydraulically operatedhose, large feed tube, and quieter
more powerful engine, the2-year old machine isergonomically designed andsafer for the operator to use.
Mounted on a trailer, themachine has a 90 gallonheated tank of emulsion, ahopper of clean chip stone,and a compressed air sprayer.The operator first clears thepothole with a blast of air,then jets it full of emulsion-coated rock at a speed of 50mph. The patch is fully com-pacted and ready for trafficright away.
“With our streets getting olderand money getting tighter, there’snot enough money to overlay thestreets. We keep the crew busypatching pretty much full time allyear round,” says Richard KinzerBeloit Streets Supervisor. In 2003they repaired nearly 23,000 pot-holes, using up 8622 gallons ofemulsion and about 240 tons ofchip stone. They got their firstpatcher in 1997. The new onecost $45,000 in 2002, equippedwith lighted arrow board.
The most important feature,though, is the quality of the patch.“It’s about as close to a perma-nent repair as you can find. Ourpatches are much better by farthan a cold patch,” says Garcia.“We have places that we patchedsix or seven years ago that are stillin good shape.”
They found the spray systemcan be used to overlay pavementsections with bad alligator crack-ing. “It lets you get a few moreyears out of a pavement,” saysGarcia. “Five years later when theygo to tear out the old pavementthe patch is still there.” Also, theysave money on repairing pave-ment around manholes and haveeven used it to fix broken curbs.
They still use some cold patch,however, when there is a pothole“epidemic,” such as after the firstspring thaw and rain. “We sendthree or four crews out, patchingholes, to get a handle on them.Later we send the patchmobileout to those locations to seal them permanently,” says Kinzer.
“The machine needs employeesthat take a serious interest in running the machine,” he says.“They must be well trained andhave good eye hand coordinationso they can make patches withsmooth transitions.” ApparentlyGarcia and Boatner have the rightstuff. In 2004 they were patching19 holes an hour, on average, upfrom 17.3 in 2003.
For more information on Beloit’s spraypatcher, contact Richard Kinzer at:608/364-2929.
on installing and testing the cou-plers. An OSHA Safety and HealthInformation Bulletin describes theproblem and recommends actionsto prevent unintended releases. • Check your quick couplers to
see if they present a hazard. • Get and install retrofits if
needed and available, orreplace with new, safer model.
• Maintain and inspect couplersto prevent malfunctions.
• Test connections every time anattachment is made. Followmanufacturer’s instructions.
• Train employees to use properly,inspect, and test. Require themto use proper procedures.
Hazards of Unintended Release ofBuckets from Quick Couplers onHydraulic Excavators, OSHA bulletinSHIB 08-26-2004, is available in printfrom the TIC. On the Web at: www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib082604.html
Lever
LockingPin
EXCHANGEIdea Patcher plugs potholes, permanently
Quick coupler release hazard
Locking pin or other safety device preventsunintended release.
Quick couplers make it easy to switch attachments.
THE WINNING TEAM at the APWASnow Plow Roadeo in September wasManitowoc #1, Kerry Krajnik and Paul La Croix.
Second place went to Sheboygan Team #1, Scott Buboltz, Mark Oldenburg,and Mark Pawasara (mechanic).
Third place winners were a combinedteam consisting of Tyson Barnes fromJefferson County and Rod McGee fromPolk County.
Competition was stiff with 52 teams participating—the highest number ever.Next year the Roadeo will be back atLambeau Field on Wednesday, September21, 2005.
WINTER 2005 3
and commercial suburban areas.Alternative routing should be discouraged.” (6D.01)
The Manual is now in compli-ance with the Americans withDisabilities Act (ADA). “That has a great impact on Part 6 becauseof pedestrians near work zones,”says Gordon, who serves on the national MUTCD advisorycommittee.
To accomplish this goal, thereare many changes throughout thesection and they require assess-ment and planning. For example,if you determine that pedestrianswith visual impairment will needto pass through the work zone,you must provide a walkway with“detectable channelization.” Thewalking path must have somekind of raised, continuous edgethat a blind person can feel with a cane. Drums with tape strungbetween them would not work.Details will be covered in theJanuary workshop.
Reviewing these changes canmake it seem like setting up awork zone is impossibly difficult.While some situations are com-plex, following a few standardsetups will take care of most work zone situations.
“Typically, orange t-shirts do notmeet that standard,” says TomNotbohm, State Traffic Engineer of Design, WisDOT Bureau ofHighway Operations. Although the compliance date is December2006, supervisors will want to beaware of the change as they aremaking budgets and purchasingnew safety equipment.
Making work zonesaccessible
The new Manual Part 6 hasmany changes designed to betteraccommodate buses, bicycles,pedestrians, and persons with disabilities. “Basically the Manualnow says that we have to assessthe needs and use judgment toprovide for effective continuity of pedestrian routes and busstops,” says Tom Notbohm. Thesechanges have a compliance dateof December 2008.
To conform to the new Manual,pedestrian features have to beconsistent with the existing facility.For example, if the old walkwaywas paved, the work zone walk-way must have a hard surface. The Manual gives the guidancethat “In general, pedestrian routesshould be preserved in urban
MUTCD affects work zones . . . from page 1
P H O N E
800.442.4615F A X608.263.3160E M A I [email protected] E B S I T Ehttp://tic.engr.wisc.edu
Plowing champions
For safety in work zones
Working in the right of way without proper signing is a hazard thatoccurs frequently.
PREPARE Have on site an adequate supply of signs, cones,Stop/Slow paddles, reflectivevests, and other basics.
PLAN Develop a plan and traina lead worker in proper workzone set up.
TRAIN Teach proper flaggingand work zone set up to theworkers.
SUPERVISE AND INSPECTEnsure that workers and contractors are using properprocedures and work zone set ups on the site.
Kerry Krajnik (l.) and Paul LaCroix, Manitowoc'schampionship plowing team.
ALUMINUM SIGNS startedfalling off their wood posts in less than a year after WisDOTswitched to posts treated withACQ (Ammoniacal Copper Quat).Previously, they had used poststreated with the preservative CCA(Chromated Copper Arsenate).The change took place about twoyears ago because of a US EPArequirement.
WINTER 20054
California study:low cost signfixes make ruralroads 41% saferIN JUST SIX YEARS, totalcrashes dropped from 601 to 348 on 676 miles of rural low volume roads in MendicinoCounty, California. At the sametime, crashes rose by 27% oncomparable roads not included inthe safety project. This spectacularimprovement owes much of itssuccess to regular safety reviewsand upgraded signing.
“It was nothing scientific by any means,” says Gary Kennedy,Manitowoc County HighwayCommissioner. “It was a matter of reviewing their roads, lookingat the crashes, and putting up the right signs.” He andCommissioner Roger Laning,Sheboygan County HighwayDepartment, attended a nationalrural road safety meeting inMendicino County last September.
“They just did the things we’veknown for 20 years should bedone,” Laning agrees. “Get thesigning in good condition—checking for placement, propermarking, making sure the signswere reflective—and reviewingcrash data. The same things arecovered every year in our HighwaySafety workshops.”
The TIC Highway Safety work-shops, held February 21-March 1,review the basics of signing andmarking, highlight good signinstallation and maintenance practices, and help participantsidentify roadside hazards toimprove local road safety. (See Calendar, back page)
What Mendicino County did
Mendicino County lies in a mountainous region on the northcoast of California. There is notown government so the countymanages the rural roads; nearly allare winding and hilly; 40% are
If you have questions aboutthis issue, contact Matt Rauch at 608/266-0150.
Wood preservative corrodes signs
Copper in woodpreservative corrodesaluminum signs.
Putting a plastic spacer behind sign will protect it.
posts.” You can seal signs that arecorroded, if the base material isstill good, by cleaning with a wirebrush and spraying with XIM-400,or equivalent product, which is aclear metal primer for aluminum.Then put plastic or foam spacersbetween the sign and the post.DOT is using 31⁄2”x 31⁄2” squareplastic spacers.
“We’re also recommending use of stainless steel lag bolts andwashers to mount the signs,”Rauch says. “We have seen corrosion and deterioration on galvanized bolts and washers.”You can use up existing stocks ofACQ-treated posts by installingsigns with spacers and stainlesshardware.
Municipalities and state agen-cies can purchase CCA-treatedwood for roadway uses. However, EPA has not eased its rules for residential uses; ACQ treatedwood is required for wood decksand other home projects.
“We’re also
recommending
use of stainless
steel lag bolts
and washers to
mount the signs.”
“The problem is the copper in the preservative reacts with the alu-minum in the signs,” says MattRauch, WisDOT State SigningEngineer. “Where CCA has about16% copper, ACQ has 66%.”
As of December 2004 WisDOThas returned to using only CCAtreated posts and is alerting munici-palities and signing contractors tothe problem. Some counties havealso reported the problem, whichalso affects wood guardrail postsand bridge timbers.
First, find out if you have a problem. Check posts in stock,invoices or posts in the field for thetype of preservative. They will havea tag on one end specifying thetreatment (“ACQ” or “CCA”). Ifyou have a sign inventory, you canlocate wood posts installed sinceACQ sign posts became widelyavailable in 2002.
Removing posts is not necessary,Rauch says. “We have 25,000-30,000 signs already on these
gravel. With no money available to pave, straighten roads, orrealign intersections, the countyDOT had to take a low tech, lowcost approach to making theirroads safer.
They invested $8,000–$10,500a year in annual, systematic safetyreviews that covered a third of thecounty and about 220 centerlinemiles of road. In a three-year cyclethey reviewed 676 road miles,examining all the arterials and collectors, and selected local roadschosen through crash records. Inaddition, improvements cost anestimated average of $100/sign.
The county Traffic Engineer firstreviewed accident reports andmaps to identify patterns in loca-tions, causes or types of accidents.He prepared a paper record foreach road marked with locationsof particular interest. Driving theroad, he used a tape recorder todescribe deficiencies, locations,and recommended correctiveactions. The notes were tran-scribed later into a database.
In the first three years of the project, they identified and corrected significant deficiencies,concentrating on improved signingfor curves and turns. This pro-duced a decrease of 34% in total
crashes. Other improvements in the second three year cycleresulted in an additional 8%reduction.
What you can do
Start by making safety a priority.Learn to identify common road-way safety and signing hazards by attending the TIC workshopand reviewing the TIC’s SafetyEvaluation and Rating (SAFER)Manual.
This spring, when you rate pave-ment conditions, set aside time torate some roads for safety as well.It is especially valuable to reviewcrash data on roads chosen formaintenance or improvementwork in the coming constructionseason. You can include safetyimprovements at little extra cost.You could also review the mostheavily used corridor, choose yourcommunity’s main arterials, orselect a group of roads based oncrash frequency.
Each county has a HighwaySafety Committee which meetsquarterly and a DOT highway safe-ty coordinator attends each meet-ing. The committee should ask thesafety coordinator for an Excelspreadsheet listing all crashes inthe county. The data can be sup-
plied on a computer CD. All crash-es reported in the county are listedby road name with data on type,location, driver, weather, and roadway characteristics. Data for2004 will be available in March orApril 2005.
On low volume roads you willneed to look at data from a 3-5 year period in order to spotpatterns and trends. You shouldbe able to get this data for anygroup of roads from the county or District in electronic spreadsheetformat.
“Most town road intersectionsmay not have enough traffic orcrashes to calculate a statisticallyvalid crash rate, but the listing canstill be used to compare one inter-section to another.” says RichardLange, WisDOT Safety AnalysisEngineer. “You could get someidea of what’s good or bad, however.”
Early next year his office will be publishing tables which givesome guidance on what is a “normal operating crash rate” at an intersection. By comparinglocal crash rates to those in thetable, you may be able to identifylocal intersections with higherthan “normal” crash rates.
Just do it
You can make your roads signifi-cantly safer at almost no extracost. Do it by looking at signs allthe time, and while you are doingother things. Make it a continuousprocess. Any time you look at aroad, no matter what the reason,look at signs too; just always do it.
“You don’t need crash data togo out and look at signs and keepthem in good shape,” says GaryKennedy. “Look for locations thatare obvious to anybody — curves,turns, blind intersections. There isa pay back for this. It is simple,low cost, and it can make a difference.”
WINTER 2005 5
Signing for Local Roads,TIC Bulletin No. 7, is a goodgeneral introduction to when,where and how to use signs.
The SAFER Manual offers apractical, systematic approachto identifying safety hazardson local roads. Both areavailable in print from TIC and on the TIC Web page.
“It was nothing
scientific by any
means. It was
a matter of
reviewing their
roads, looking
at the crashes,
and putting up
the right signs.”
Improved signing on curves and turns cut crashes 34% in Mendicino County.
WINTER MAINTENANCE—plowing, deicing, sanding—puts a lot of strain on equipment. Thebest way to ensure your opera-tions are smooth and reliable is to do regular, preventive mainte-nance. Adding new equipmentalso can make the job easier andsave costs, sometimes for relatively little outlay.
Dave Lyga, Shop Superintendentwith the Trempealeau CountyHighway Department, offered anumber of suggestions at the TIC’sWinter Maintenance workshopslast September. Some highlightsare described here. Details andspecs are in the workshop packet(extra copies available).
Electrical Salting and anti-icingliquids are making it more andmore difficult to prevent electricalcorrosion. Lyga recommends usingquality (sxl) wiring designed formarine and salt usage, and sealedconnectors (Weatherpak or equi-valent). Completely seal all connections and splices with good
quality epoxy-lined butt connec-tors that shrink when heated.Protect wires by running theminside a plastic loom.
Be careful with testing. Don’tpoke wires with a test light; corro-sion will start almost immediately. Also, use a multi-meter wheneverpossible to protect sensors andother functions that require fewerthan 12 volts.
Hydraulics Keep moisture andcontamination out of the hydraulicsystem. Check all the hoses,change filters every year, andchange the oil if it’s milky whitefrom moisture. When attachingsnow equipment let a smallamount of oil leak out to flush anydirt or contamination before hook-ing up the hoses. “It’s kind of likecleaning a wound on your armbefore putting on a bandage,”says Lyga.
Fuels Change fuel filters annually,and check for moisture. Fuel afterplowing when the tank and fuelare both cold. Avoid putting coldfuel in a warm tank to minimizecondensation. Use anti-gel prod-ucts only if necessary, or purchasea blend of #1 and #2 diesel toprevent fuel gel. The blend hasless power and fuel economy,however. Add cetane boosters todiesel to increase power and cutexhaust smoke during morningstart-ups.
Bio fuel—diesel blended with5% soybean oil—works well Lygahas found. It already has coldweather gels, and it runs moresmoothly with less hesitation andless smoke than straight diesel.“The power is as good, or better,than standard grade diesel fueland we’re getting 5–7% bettermileage,” Lyga says. Though itcosts 2–3% per gallon more, the better mileage produces a net savings.
Air Keep air filters clean. Checkall clamps on the air to air after-cooler tubes and hoses. Air leakshere can cause significant enginepower loss. Keep outside finsclean and repainted and clear out
any dirt and debris that builds upbetween the radiators.
Lubrication & flushing Haveplow drivers grease often. “Youhave to push the moisture and saltbrine out of the joints and replaceit with fresh grease,” Lyga says.Keep clutch adjuster rings free soyou can adjust when necessary.
Vacuum the throttle pedals toclear out salt from your boots andlubricate with penetrating oil toeliminate problems like engineservice warning lights due tofaulty throttle sensors.
Flush out liquid system tanksand pumps thoroughly. Add twogallons of windshield washer solu-tion and leave it in the tank untilyou are ready to use it.
New product ideas and specs“Don’t be afraid to try new products and ideas,” says Lyga.Preformed or spray-on plasticreduces drag on the plow mold-board and keeps salt moving indump bodies. Rubber blades, orcarbide blades with rubber inserts
WINTER 20056
Tips for winter mainenance
Deicing chemicalscan corrode anddamage wiring.
Protect wires byusing plastic loom.
Flush liquid system tanks andpumps thoroughly.
New WisDOT lighting guidelines include HID head lamps.
at the bolt holes, are great forreducing vibration and quietingroad noise for the operator.
Good lighting is also very impor-tant for your safety and the pub-lic’s. New WisDOT lighting guide-lines include high intensity dis-charge (HID) headlamps, an LEDlight strip mounted on the rear ofthe truck, and an LED wing plow
lamp and end marker to mark theend of the wing plow. They arerequired for trucks purchased afterJanuary 1, 2005 that plow snowon state highways with 25,000 ormore vehicles per day and discre-tionary for others.
LED stop/tail/turn lights are themost effective rear lighting avail-able at this time. It is a very goodidea to upgrade current truckswith LED lights. They take lessvoltage and are very long lasting.The price has come down consid-erably and no special conversion isneeded. LED clear/white sanderlights are now also available.
“When ordering a new truck,do a lot of research and ask a lotof questions so you can developgood specifications,” says Lyga.Specs don’t have to be manypages long, but they should listthe components that are most
important to your needs. Be specific about what you plan toinstall on the truck chassis.
For your electrical needs, ask for a “body builders electrical harness” with switches alreadyinstalled. Many new trucks usemulti-plex wiring that sends multi-ple signals simultaneously to manyfunctions. “You cannot just cutand splice wires for adding equip-ment any more like we used to,”says Lyga.
Ask for a “clean frame pack-age” if you plan on installingunderbody scrapers, pusher axles,front mounted spinners, etc. Talkto your body company and findout what requirements they needto properly mount your equip-ment. Failure to do this will resultin extra costs to you.
WINTER 2005 7
Plastic reduces drag on the plowmoldboard.
Using Salt and Sand forWinter Maintenance,TIC Bulletin No. 6, gives good basic information and practical tips on using deicing chemicalsand sand.
Snow EquipmentMaintenance packet has details and specs onwinter equipment. Requestfrom the TIC.
DRIVERS WHO operate snow-plows and other trucks weighingover 26,000 lbs. gross vehicleweight must have a CommercialDrivers License (CDL) under federal law. This requirement tookeffect in 1999, but changes andclarifications over the years haveproduced some confusion. Also, further changes take effect as ofSeptember 30, 2005.
Instructor Gary Kreuger dis-cussed the CDL at the TIC’s WinterRoad Maintenance Workshop inSeptember. Here are some questions from participants aboutwho is required to have a CDL.
Q Aren’t municipal employees exempt?
No. Regardless of who you workfor, you must have a CDL if youare driving a Commercial MotorVehicle (CMV).
Q Are motor gradersconsidered a CMV?
No. You do not need a CDL tooperate a motor grader.
Q What about trucks thatweigh exactly 26,000 lbs.?
They are not considered a CMV. Abus designed to haul 16 or morepassengers including the driver is considered a CMV, even if itweighs less than 26,000 lbs.
Q Do you need a CDL todrive a truck with air
brakes, even if it doesn’tweigh over 26,000 lbs.
No.
Changes affecting operators withCDLs include:
Bring your Social Security cardto renew your CDL. This change,made by the Patriot Act, is alreadyin effect at some WisDOT DMV
locations in the state and will beat all in 2005.
Drivers can not drink any alcohol four hours before operating a CMV; they can nothave any trace of alcohol on their breath; they are consideredlegally drunk with a blood alcohollevel of 0.04% or greater.
Several penalties and stan-dards will be stricter as of nextSeptember. A person can lose theCDL for: a major traffic violationwhile driving a CMV or other vehicle; driving a CMV withoutobtaining a CDL or without havingthe proper class of CDL for thevehicle; driving a CMV without aCDL in your possession; and otherconditions.
States can not issue a special,or occupational, CDL licensewhen the CMV privilege is disqualified, nor when the non-CMV license is revoked, suspended or cancelled.
For more details,including a chart ofWisconsin CDLAlcohol RelatedOffenses, request the CDL packetfrom the TIC.
CDL reminders and changes
WHEN ASPHALT pavementdeteriorates to a PASER rating of 3 or 2, it needs structural repairsor reconstruction. Often the baselayer under the severe blockcracks, frequent potholes and alligator cracking, is too thin orthe subgrade soil is poor quality.You can learn about repair, reconstruction and maintenanceoptions for local roads and streetsat the TIC’s Road Maintenanceworkshops next spring.
A recent City of Wisconsin Dellsproject tackled base problems:“We knew going in that the soilwas marginal,” says Mike Horkan,the city’s Director of Public Works.Rather than undercutting andremoving the wet clay, then fillingwith up to two feet of goodstone, they chose to pulverize andadd fly ash.
The contractor, WK Construc-tion, pulverized the existing 3” of asphalt and 6” of base, mixingit with subgrade soil for a total
depth of 12”. To increase strength,fly ash (12%) and water wereadded on a second pass. The mixture was then compacted andgraded to final cross section. Thenew base was ready for paving intwo days.
“There was virtually no down-time with the roadway,” says BillKahl, owner of WK Construction.“Instead of massive amounts ofundercutting that might haveclosed the road tight, they got astabilized base and paving plat-form in two days and every nightit was open to traffic.”
No stone was delivered to thejob and nothing was hauled away.The pulverizer created a new basefrom the native soil, availablebase, and existing asphalt. Addingfly ash strengthened and stabilizedthe wet clay soil.
Fly ash contains tricalcium aluminate, the same chemical asin Portland cement. It works onclay soils much the same way; it
reacts quickly with water, dries outthe soil, and physically cementssoil grains together. This producesa stronger base that is more resistant to water infiltration.Typical addition rates are 12–15%based on dry weight of soil.Organic soils are difficult to stabilize using fly ash.
New asphalt overlays over a pulverized base last longer than astandard AC overlay over an ACpavement, says a WisDOT study. It reports that the statewide average service life for pulverizedbase with AC overlay is 18 yearscompared to 12 for AC over AC.Although initial cost is higher,maintenance costs are lower,resulting in a lower life cycle cost.
“WisDOT pavement designers[should] use pulverize and relay …to address severe existing ACpavement defects such as cuppedtransverse cracks, longitudinal and transverse distortions, blockcracking, alligator cracking andrutting,” the report recommends.
WINTER 20058
Pulverizing old pavement with base and subsoil provides strong support for a new asphalt layer.
Determining the Effective-ness of Pulverizing and Relay of Asphaltic Pavementand Base Course, WI-02-03,the WisDOT report, is availablefrom the TIC.
TIC Road Maintenanceworkshops, March 16–24,present pavement renewalstrategies along with bestpractices for extending pave-ment life. See Calendar, back page.
“WisDOT pavement
designers [should]
use pulverize and
relay … to address
severe existing AC
pavement defects.”
Pulverizing — a good fix for a bad base
What is WISLR? What is PASER?
WISLR (Wisconsin Information System for Local Roads) isthe statewide database of local road informationmanaged by WisDOT. It is Internet-accessible. Localgovernments, counties and WisDOT can all use it.
WISLR stores roadway data such as surface type, surfacewidth, pavement rating, shoulder, traffic lanes, functionalclassification, and more.
Local communities send pavement rating data to WISLRusing a variety of methods—electronic spreadsheets,paper reports, PASERWARE (v.3.0 only), and others.
PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) is asimple, objective system used at the local level to visuallyinspect and rate the condition of pavement surfaces. It isexplained with photos and text in reference booklets foreach surface type: asphalt, concrete, gravel, and others.
What is PASERWARE? PASERWARE is a computer program that stores yourmunicipal road data and helps with local pavementmanagement decisions.
What does WISLR do for me? What do PASER ratings do for me?
Users of WISLR can view both their own roadwayinventory data and statewide roadway inventory data.
WISLR provides:
• Local control of data quality. You can update andcorrect local data.
• View both local and statewide data with location. See trends and display with graphics.
• Tools for rudimentary pavement needs analysis ofcurrent year data, and Geographic Information System(GIS) capability to “map” data.
• Immediate access to WisDOT forms/reports: AnnualCertification Statements, Inventory Report, ConstructionReport Form.
PASER ratings help local officials:
• Balance priorities and make difficult decisions
• Explain options and consequences clearly to citizensand other decision makers
What does PASERWARE do for me? PASERWARE uses your local computer to:
• Store your local road data after it is downloaded from WISLR
• Update pavement rating data
• Perform needs analysis for 1-6 years
• Help with management decisions
Purpose of WISLR Purpose of PASER ratings
WISLR is used by WisDOT to:
• Distribute General Transportation Aids to local units ofgovernment.
• Provide essential information for mandated federalreporting.
• Distribute county forest payments to qualifying counties.
• Store pavement ratings submitted by locals to complywith Wis. Statute 86.302(2).
PASER is an objective technique local people use to ratelocal roads. Reviewing all roads together and using ratingsto make choices helps manage pavement more effectively.
Purpose of PASERWAREPASERWARE provides “what if” charts. It can project upto six years into the future and show the effects on roadcondition of different budget, project selection, andmaintenance decisions.
Who may use WISLR? Who uses PASERWARE?
Local government officials, county officials, thoseemployed by local governments and counties, andWisDOT may use WISLR.
About 600 Wisconsin towns, villages and cities currentlyuse a version of PASERWARE. The newest version,PASERWARE 3.0, is compatible with the WISLR database,It can send pavement rating data to WisDOT. You do notneed to use PASERWARE 3.0 to submit pavement ratings.
How do I gain access to WISLR? How do I get PASERWARE v. 3.0?
Officials can access WISLR at the WisDOT WISLR page:http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/wislr/index.htm
Scroll down to: How to access and get started usingWISLR. Once you have received WISLR privileges, accessWISLR at: https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/wislr/
Current PASERWARE users who want to upgrade to v.3.0 can get the program only in a TIC training session.
You can continue using older versions of PASERWARE foraiding local management decisions and submit 2005ratings directly to WISLR as a separate process.
WINTER 2005 9
PASER Manuals to help youevaluate and rate roads areavailable on the TIC Web pageor in print (see page 10).
PASER videos show how toevaluate and rate pavementconditions using PASER ratingsand manuals (see page 10.)
Asphalt PASER, 46 min. #17761
Gravel PASER, 15 min.,#18385
Sealcoat PASER, 13 min.,#18386
PASER Series 74 min. #18390(all three together)
Learn to use WISLR with acomputer-based training CD. E-mail your requests [email protected]
Frequentlyaskedquestions:Pavementratings,PASER, WISLR
A LOCAL ROADWAY agency can managepavements more effectively using an objectiveapproach. This involves periodically evaluating allpavement surface conditions and using the infor-mation to set priorities and make decisions.
Recognizing the value of this approach,Wisconsin requires local governments to rate allpavements every two years and submit the data toWisDOT (Ch. 86.302(2) Wis. Stats.). The next set of
ratings is due in December 2005. (Info on how to submit ratings will be out early next year.)
Nearly all Wisconsin municipalities rate their roadsusing PASER, a simplified rating system developed bythe TIC. The information becomes part of a statewidelocal road information database called WISLR, managedby the Wisconsin Department of Transportation(WisDOT). This article helps explain PASER and WISLR.
Publications
The SAFER Manual, TIC, 1996, 40pp., provides practical informationfor identifying hazards on yourroadways and prioritizing safetyimprovements.
Comprehensive IntersectionResource Library is a CD thatincludes many federal and stateguidelines and other publicationsthat are useful in the design ofsignalized and unsignalized inter-sections, roundabouts, rail gradecrossings and other intersectiondesigns. The CD also has publica-tions on pedestrian and older driver considerations for inter-section design. A limited numberof CDs are available from TIC.
The Nature of Roadsides andthe Tools to Work with It,FHWA discusses IntegratedRoadside Vegetation Managementbest practices. Includes informa-tion on working with native plantsand controlling invasive plants. Ithas an excellent list of referencebooks and Web sites related toroadside vegetation management.Also online: www.invasivespecies.gov/docs/roadsides/
Managing Beavers and theirDams A packet of informationproviding information on bestpractices on management ofbeavers and beaver dams. Theinformation compiled by theVermont Fish and WildlifeDepartment includes details onsimple countermeasures to reducebeaver damage.
Culverts – Proper Use and
Installation, No. 15, TIC, 2004,12 pp. Discusses conditions toreview in selecting and sizing culverts, design considerations,installation methods, environmen-tal concerns and required permits,and critical maintenance factors.
Glasgrid® PavementReinforcement ProductEvaluation, FEP-03-03, is a 10-year evaluation by WisDOT of atest installation on State TrunkHighway 57 in Sheboygan. Onlineat: www.dot.wisconsin.gov/library/research/ docs/finalreports/tau-final-reports/glassgrid2.pdf
Aluminum Sign CorrosionInvestigation, WI-06-04, WisDOT,discusses early corrosion problemsin aluminum sign blanks inWisconsin and identifies AlkalineCopper Quatenary (ACQ) preser-vative in wood signposts as theproblem. Recommends changes inspecifications for signs and signhardware, and installation procedures. Available from TIC.
Websites
The Deer-Vehicle CrashInformation Clearinghouse atthe University of Wisconsin–Madison, www.deercrash.com/index.htm, is a great source if youare looking for information to helpin dealing with the problem ofdeer vehicle crashes. The Web siteincludes a Counter-measureToolbox at www.deercrash.com/toolbox/index.htm that summa-rizes research on countermeasuresand products that claim to reducedeer-vehicle crashes. You canselect a particular deer-vehiclecrash counter measure and learnmore about what research hasshown about its effectiveness.
The National Invasive SpeciesCouncil at www.invasivespecies.gov has information on invasivespecies and their managementand links to other resources oninvasive species.
Videotapes
Poisonous Plant Safety, The Training
Network, 1990, 8 min. #18737.This short video shows examplesof poisonous ivy, oak and sumacand gives tips on identificationand treatment for field personnel.
Snow and Ice Control (series), IL DOT, 2001, 59 min. #17625
Introduction and Plows,10 min. Shows basic types of plows and their use.
Hopper and TailgateSpreaders, 8 min. Types anddetails on controls, hookup,loading and calibration.
Weather Forecasting, andChemical Application,8 min. Use of salt and calciumchloride, storage and both dryand liquid applications. Typesof weather forecasting toolsincluding DTH and RWIS.
Pre-Storm Preparation,13 min. Stresses importance of taking care of equipment.Includes preseason check, daily equipment checklist,radio use, dry run, and appropriate clothing.
Plowing and SpreadingTechniques, 12 min.Highlights challenges withstorm types and safe operatingtechniques. Includes truckplows, wings, and graders.
Final Clean Up, 3 min.
A Snowplow—Cool! MinnesotaLocal Road Research Board, 2001,9 min. #18679. This public infor-mation video covers the dangersof children building snow fortsand playing in snow piles next to apublic street. Intended to educatechildren and snow plow drivers
Asphalt: PASER, UW–Madison,1995, 46 min., #17761.Investigates pavement distress,performance, and causes.Identifies asphalt pavement fail-ures and classifies pavement con-dition on PASER rating scale. Alsodiscusses repair or rehabilitation.
Gravel: PASER, UW–Madison,2000, 15 min., #18385. Describescommon distress in gravel roadsand uses distress to rate gravelroads in PASER rating system.Intended as a review for localagency officials.
Sealcoat: PASER, UW–Madison,2000, 13 min., #18386. Describescommon distress in gravel roadswith an asphalt chip seal surface.Covers evaluation and rating.Intended as a review for localagency officials.
PASER Series, UW–Madison,2000, 74 min., #18390. Combinesthe Asphalt-PASER, Gravel-PASER,and Sealcoat-PASER trainingvideos. Use to learn how to evalu-ate and rate pavement conditionsusing PASER system and manuals.
Getting Across—AquaticOrganisms and Road-streamCrossings: A Brief Introduction,U.S. Forest Service, 2003, 6 min.#18665. Brief introduction to theimpact of road culverts in streamhabitat. Provides awareness of theissue and problems to a generalaudience.
WINTER 200510
Print copies of publicationsare available free from theTIC while supplies last.Electronic copies may bedownloaded from the TIC Web site.
Videos are loaned freethrough county UW–Extension offices.
Print copies of the currentTIC Video Lending LibraryCatalog were distributed thissummer. Videos are alsolisted on the TIC Web site.
TIC Web site
http://tic.engr.wisc.edu/
NEW
REVISED
RESOURCES
Getting Across—AquaticOrganisms and Road-streamCrossings: General Overview,U.S. Forest Service, 2003, 17 min.#18666. Shows details of theimpact of road culverts on streamhabitat and aquatic species.Examples of good culvert installa-tion are provided. Intended forgeneral, non-technical audience.
Plant Site Safety, Iowa StateUniversity, 1997, 11 min. #18630.Shows typical hazards at concrete,asphalt and crushing plants.Advice intended for plant workers,crane or truck operators. Good fornew employees or as a refresher.
Drainage Pipe Installation, PADOT, 18 min. #18667. Reviews thebasics and details of proper culvertinstallation. Steps for planning theinstallation are covered. Detailsand examples of excavating,removing, placing, and backfillingculverts are shown. The benefits ofgood compaction are demonstrat-ed. Intended for field crews.
Safe Tree and Brush Removal, ILDOT, 2003, 19 min. #18668.Good training video. Begins withinformation on why to removetrees and brush. Shows details ondaily maintenance, sharpening and tips for safe operation ofchain saws and brush chippers.Also illustrates safe skills for treecutting, stump removal and treetrimming.
Safe Mowing Procedures, ILDOT, 2003, 17 min. #18669.Describes when and where tomow according to Illinois DOT policy. Has good details on dailyequipment inspections and safemowing operations.
On Again, Off Again: A Guideto Mounting and DismountingHeavy Equipment, Association of County Commissioners ofOklahoma, 2003, 18 min.#18670. A good review of thebasic safety rules. Includes 8 stepsfor safe mounting of equipment.A few ideas presented withhumor. Useful for all equipmentoperators.
IF A PICTURE IS WORTH a thousand words, avideotape must be a thousand times better. And whenyou can choose from over 300 of them …. priceless!
Take advantage of our video resource for all yourtraining and orientation needs. Have a new snow plowdriver? Show him safe operations with “WinterOperations Training Program,” a five part set from Iowa DOT, or review techniques in 23 minutes with “Plowing Tips from the Pros.”
The TIC has over 300 titles in our Videotape Lending Library, covering the range of roadwayoperations from asphalt pavement maintenance tomotorgrader operation, to “What is Anti-Icing?”
“Videotapes are short and practical,” says TIC Director Don Walker. “You can fit them into yourtraining schedule. And the only cost to you is returnpostage.”
A new catalog of videotapes was distributed a couplemonths ago to all local agencies. It includes titles,descriptions and running time for each tape, along withhow to order and return them. Tapes are grouped bysubject, and there is also a title index. The sameinformation is on the TIC Web page.
“It’s a good idea to schedule ahead, especially for themore popular titles,” Walker says. One of the mostpopular is “Plowing Tug Hill 1939,” an oldie-but-goodiethat makes a humorous introduction to wintermaintenance training.
Check your office for the 2004 catalog to order videosfor training, or look online at http://tic.engr.wisc.edu.Recently released videos are highlighted in RESOURCES onpage 10.
WINTER 2005 11
Don Walker DIRECTOR
[email protected] Pudloski STAFF
[email protected] Jordan STAFF
Keith Knapp STAFF
[email protected] Fuerstenberg PROGRAM ASSISTANT
[email protected] Entine WRITER/EDITOR, ENTINE & ASSOCIATES
Susan Kummer GRAPHICS, ARTIFAX
Videos makegreat trainingtools
New look for CrossroadsCROSSROADS newsletter takes on a new look in this issue. The TICstaff joined with editor Lynn Entine and graphic designer SusanKummer to create a new style and layout. Our new banner includesan outline map of Wisconsin to emphasize our strong ties to thoseinvolved in managing streets and highways at the state, county, andlocal level. We have always tried to bring you articles with good ideasand accurate, practical information. Sometimes we have had to leaveout good material because space was tight. This issue expands to 12 pages, giving room for more of those stories, and more photos togo along with them. Future issues will be 8 or 12 pages as necessaryto cover the topics we think you would like to read about. We hopeyou find our new design attractive and easy to read.
CROSSROADS provides information on roads and bridges for local officials.Published quarterly by the Wisconsin Transportation Information Center (TIC) —the nationwide Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP)—with assistance fromthe Federal Highway Administration, WisDOT, and the University of Wisconsin–Extension. For permission to reproduce articles or graphics, please contact us.
P H O N E800.442.4615
F A X608.263.3160
E M A I [email protected]
W E B S I T Ehttp://tic.engr.wisc.edu
TIC WorkshopsSpecific details, locations and registra-tion forms are sent to everyone on theCROSSROADS mailing list before eachworkshop. Call 800/462-0876 for detailsand registration information or go onlineat http://tic.engr.wisc.edu/enroll.html.
Work Zone and FlaggerSafety For road supervisors andmaintenance personnel who planand set up work zones. This work-shop covers traffic control devices,the parts of a work zone, and a vari-ety of work zone set-ups, includingmobile operations and flagging oper-ations. Participants will set up workzones using the Wisconsin PocketGuide to Workzone Safety andFlagger’s Handbook. Fee: $45
Jan 12 TomahJan 13 BarneveldJan 14 BrookfieldJan 18 Eau ClaireJan 19 CableJan 20 RhinelanderJan 21 DePere
Highway Safety A review of thebasics of signing and marking, good
sign installation, and maintenancepractices on local roads. Learn toidentify roadside safety hazards andunderstand and use crash informa-tion to improve safety on local roads.Fee: $45
Feb 21 TomahFeb 22 Eau ClaireFeb 23 CableFeb 24 RhinelanderFeb 25 De PereFeb 28 BrookfieldMar 1 Barneveld
Road Maintenance Find outwhat to do this spring to maintainyour roads and the options for repairand reconstruction of local roads andstreets. Stresses best practices forextending pavement life includingcracksealing, proper drainage, ade-quate pavement thickness, andshoulder support. Fee: $45
Mar 16 TomahMar 17 Eau ClaireMar 18 HaywardMar 21 BarneveldMar 22 Menomonee FallsMar 23 DePereMar 24 Rhinelander
Local Transportation Funding(WisLine) – Thursday January 13,10:30 am–12:20 pm. Receive the latest information on state and federal funding programs for localprojects. Review funding options,hear about recent changes, discussexample projects that use fundingprograms effectively, and ask questions about funding opportuni-ties and issues. Presenters: ScottBush and Steven Coons, WisDOT;moderator: Ben Jordan, TIC. To register call 608/262-9961 or visitwww.uwex.edu/lgc
Pesticide Applicator Training for Right-of-Way ApplicatorsLive training sessions at Waukesha,January 27; Wausau, January 28.Pre-register by 14 days ahead. Forinformation on these live trainingsessions, to pre-register online, or tolearn about obtaining manuals andvideotape training visit http://ipcm.wisc.edu/PAT/training/, call RoseScott at 608/262-7588, or e-mail,[email protected]
UW–Madison seminarsLocal government officials are eligible for a limited number of scholarships for the following Engineering ProfessionalDevelopment courses held in Madison.
J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 5
25�26 Fundamentals of Railroad�Highway Crossings
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 5
14�15 Improving Public WorksConstruction Inspection Skills
16�17 Maintaining Asphalt Pavements 28�1 Municipal Engineering
Fundamentals for Non�EngineersM A R C H 2 0 0 5
14�15 Implementing a SidewalkManagement System
14�15 Solving Neighborhood TrafficProblems
A P R I L 2 0 0 5
12�14 Repair of Concrete18�19 Open Channel Design20�22 Mastering the Hydraulic
Design of Culverts25�27 Designing and Implementing
Roundabouts 25�27 Effective Roadway Lighting27�28 Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities
Nonprofit OrgU.S. Postage
P A I DMadison,WI
Permit No. 658
Wisconsin Transportation Information CenterUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison432 N. Lake Street Room 805Madison, WI 53706
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