|
Missouri DOT, SW District
(District 9)
Introduction
Greetings, and welcome to the first in a series of RoadQuake Field Test Report newsletters.
As we continue to develop the RoadQuake rumble strip, we have begun to test production samples in active work zones.
The fundamental goals we will accomplish:
· verify that the new design will stay in place when employed in live traffic,
· test different spacing of the strips in the array for optimum auditory and vibratory effect,
| |
|
Our Field Test Partner
We recently found a willing partner at the Missouri DOT Southwest District, (District 9) in Willow Springs, MO.
In the past 2 construction seasons, the Southwest District had suffered 2 tragic incidents, in which 3 people were killed. One fatality was the contractor's flagman.
In both accidents, the drivers of the vehicles were distracted. Neither noticed they had entered a work zone until it was too late.
The Southwest District offered us an active work zone on State Route 17, about 3 miles north of the town of Mountain View, and 21 miles from the Central Office in Willow Springs. 2007 traffic counts show 1,550 vehicles per day using the road.
We shipped production samples of our rumble strip to our RoadQuake product manager, Tim Cox, in early December; Tim then scheduled the installation and test for December 11 and 12.
The Installation
PSS engineer Chuck Mettler joined Tim for the field test. With a DOT crew, they set the rumble strips in the work zone.
The crew initially plac ed
4 strips about 12" apart on the northbound lane.
The NB lane featured a significant down-slope, as seen in the photo.
After 2 hours, they re-set the northbound strips at 36" apart.
On the southbound side, the combined crew installed a 5 strip array, each about 36" apart from the other.
The road surface was dry but uneven, due to a patch of cold-applied asphalt.
The crew installed the rumble strips in minutes, as RoadQuake does not require adhesives, expoxies, fasteners or nails for installation.The rumble strips conform to the surface of the road.
Observations
PSS staffers observed minimal movement in both arrays. By the end of Day 1, no strips in either the NB or SB arrays showed movement over 3."
On Day 2, the crew installed the strips in the same locations, again with the strips 36" apart. PSS staff did not observe any movement greater than 2" in either array.
MO DOT staff measured drivers' reactions to the rumble strips with a radar gun.
MO DOT measured speed reductions of 5 to 10 mph
after drivers crossed the rumble strips. |
Conclusion
We satisfied our first goal: we proved to ourselves, and MO DOT, that RoadQuake stays in place in live traffic.
Also, while these were not quantifiable tests, RoadQuake demonstrated that it did its job out on Route 17.
Our rumble strip alerted drivers that they were about to enter a work zone, and drivers slowed down.
We welcome the opportunity to test and demonstrate RoadQuake in more locations and environments.
For more information, or a demonstration, please contact Tim Cox, our Product Manager for Roadquake.
You can reach Tim at:
We hope you have found this newsletter informative. Please call or write us at the contact information below with any comments you may have.
|
"On the Roadway for Safety"®
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Facts
Date: December 11-12, 2008
Location: MO SR 17, 3 miles north of Mountain View, MO
Key Contacts: Curtis Baldridge, Darren Petrus, Dan Sherbo, MO DOT, SW District
Roadway: 2-lane, 2-way with both horizontal and vertical curves
Array Pattern: NB lane: 4 strips installed 36" apart: SB lane: 5 strips, 36" apart
|
For A Live Test / Demo
Contact Tim Cox
216-244-3207 timcox@comcast.net
 | |
