Virginia's Experience with High-Friction Surface Treatments

Abstract

High-friction surface (HFS) treatments entail an application of epoxy and aggregate to roadway surfaces to provide a high degree of skid resistance. These treatments may be particularly effective in cases in which demand for tire–pavement friction is especially high, such as on rural asphalt roads at high risk for crashes, or with a record of crashes, or both, that may relate to lower skid resistance. In 2012, the Virginia Department of Transportation placed HFS materials at four locations that met this description. This paper provides information on the construction, skid resistance, bond strength, condition after 1 year, and cost of the Virginia HFS treatments. For comparison purposes, alternatives to HFS are briefly described also. The 2012 Virginia HFS installations were successfully constructed on time. The materials were of high quality and bond strength exceeded the tensile strength of the asphalt. Testing with continuous friction measurement equipment was particularly effective and served to con-firm high comparative skid resistance on the new surfaces. Unfortunately, the marginal quality of the underlying material is expected to limit the performance life of at least some of the HFS applications. For small applications, HFS treatments cost about the same as most alternative treatments used to increase skid resistance and provide the highest constructed friction. These materials may provide an effective tool in a systemwide pavement friction management program, but they will perform only as long as the structure that supports them. Pretreatment surveys with continuous friction measurement equipment can be coupled with project geometric characteristics to ensure appropriate limits on HFS applications.