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Highway development

Files are in Adobe PDF format with most recent reports first.

WisDOT Research Efforts That Support Implementation of the AASHTO Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide, 15 pages, April 2008 (167 KB)
A review of the research studies and projects funded or supported by WisDOT to support the adoption of the AASHTO MEPDG.

Managing Vegetation Under Cable Median Barriers: Mow Strip Design and Practices, 11 pages, December 2007 (447 KB)
Research on existing practices, standards and specifications for the design and construction of mow strips beneath cable median barriers.

State DOT Performance Measurement for Highway Design and Construction, 9 pages, August 2007 (131 KB)
A summary of states' published performance measures in the areas of retrospective and proactive monitoring of highway design and construction.

Roundabouts Near Rail Crossings, 61 pages, August 2007 (1.4 MB)
Research outlining European practices of installing roundabouts near at-grade rail crossings. This is a follow-up to the TSR listed below.

Setting the Clear Zone for 3R, Urban and Suburban Projects: Guidance and Standards Used by State DOTs, 9 pages, August 2007 (127 KB) 
A review of existing standards and guidance used in clear zone design for resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation projects and in urban and suburban areas.

Factoring in Business Visibility During Interchange Design, 3 pages, July 2007 (51 KB)
Information about the effects of interchange design on motorists' ability to see adjacent businesses.

Design of Geometric Elements for Bypasses and Intersections: A Survey of State Practice and National Guidance, 23 pages, July 2007 (221 KB)
A review of guidance from 13 states on geometric design best practices relevant to bypass design, as well as research and guidance from FHWA, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and other organizations.

Grass Swales: Gauging Their Ability to Remove Pollutants From Highway Stormwater Runoff, 44 pages, June 2007 (535 KB)
A summary of state DOT research and national and international resources that quantify grass swales’ effectiveness at removing pollutants from roadway runoff.

Pervious Pavement Roadways: Survey of Experiences, 3 pages, May 2007 (65 KB)
A survey of the experiences of 16 states, a Canadian province and the Federal Highway Administration in building roadways using pervious pavement.

Traffic Control Considerations for Roundabouts Built Near Rail Lines, 4 pages, April 2007 (227 KB)
An overview of federal guidelines and states’ experiences with designing roundabouts near at-grade rail crossings.

Putting the Brakes on Crossover Crashes: Median Barrier Research and Practice in the U.S., 67 pages, March 2007 (2.6 MB)
Responses from 22 state DOTs and three Canadian agencies on their guidelines for selecting and installing median barriers.

Whitetopping Performance and Mechanistic Design, 5 pages, January 2007 (218 KB)
A review of current practices in mechanistic design and performance evaluation for whitetopping, including seven states’ experiences with this overlay method.

Structures Research Partnership Opportunities, 4 pages, November 2006 (102 KB)
A summary of current and prospective pooled fund research and other partnership opportunities for structures research, including bridge research centers and TRB committees.

Flexible Pavement Research Partnerships, 5 pages, November 2006 (117 KB)
A summary of current and prospective pooled fund research and other partnership opportunities for flexible pavement research.

Geotechnical Research and Load and Resistance Factor Design Issues, 4 pages, November 2006 (76 KB)
A review of completed and ongoing research in geotechnics and Load and Resistance Factor Design, as well as TRB activities in this area.

Improving the Accuracy of Real Estate Cost Estimates And Reducing Final Costs, 10 pages, June 2006 (249 KB)
A summary of current research and state DOT practices regarding cost estimation for real estate acquisition.

Determining Depth of Utilities in Design Stages, 2 pages, March 2006 (89 KB)
Current research and practice for identifying utility location using non-destructive strategies.

Concrete Shoulder Rumble Strips, 3 pages, February 2006 (80 KB)
An excellent FHWA Web site on rumble strip design and policy, along with state and national research projects.

Warm-Mix Asphalt Pavement - State of Practice in the U.S., 3 pages, November 2005 (60 KB)
An overview of National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) efforts to pursue this new technology plus articles and reports that lend technical perspectives. 

Corridor Management, 5 pages, April 2005 (189 KB)
Research and case studies on developing and implementing a comprehensive corridor management policy.

Bridge Approach Slab Sealing and Abutment Backfilling, 76 pages, March 2005 (6.6 MB)
A supplement to the Transportation Synthesis Report  on Bridge Drainage Practices, this report details six states' slab sealing and abutment backfilling practices, with drawings and specifications. Also included are practices and contacts for joint sealing at bridge approaches in WisDOT district offices.

Mitigation of the Secondary Impacts of Transportation Projects, 5 pages, February 2005 (195 KB)
Research, case studies and best practices for handling secondary impacts, along with online resources.

Bridge Drainage Practices 5 pages, January 2005 (189 KB)
Summaries of five Midwest states' practices, along with references to recent research.

Highway Clear Zones, 65 pages, January 2005 (2.1 MB)
Results of a state survey on clear zone definition and practices, with copies of several states' standards, plus formal studies on trees and roadside safety. 

Optimal Roundabout Pavement Design 1 page, December 2004 (147 KB)
Recommendations from Kansas DOT and two pavement associations, one in Australia. 

Environmental Justice: Best Practices for Involvement of Disadvantaged Populations, 6 pages, January 2004 (213 KB)
Case studies, practices and resources from 11 states, FHWA and other federal agencies.  

Snowdrift Control, 11 pages, November 2003  (347 KB)
Six states' practices with attention given to living snow fences, guardrail weeds, causeways and design issues. Links to the Transportation Research Board (TRB), FHWA guidance and journal articles.

Landscape Architect Duties in State DOTs, 2 pages, August 2003 (161 KB)
Six states' practices, similarities and differences. 

Construction Vibration and Historic Buildings, 5 pages, July 2003 (212 KB)
State DOT and FHWA approaches to public sensitivity on this topic plus highlights from two recent books with extensive technical information.

Transportation, Air Quality and Health, 10 pages, April 2003 (345 KB)
A review of the many and complex causes of asthma, low birth weight and preterm birth. Research from NCHRP, the Texas Transportation Institute and others that points to the environmental and health benefits of reducing congestion.

Virtual Reference Stations, 3 pages, March 2003 (200 KB)
An overview of this latest refinement in real-time kinematic digital global  positioning system technology for state DOT application. A look at three states' experiences.

Aesthetic Considerations for Context-Sensitive Design, 4 pages, February 2003 (217 KB)
Highlights from a 2001 Texas Transportation Institute study and two NCHRP reports. Contact information for a relevant TRB committee and other resources.

Troubled Drainage Areas, 4 pages, February 2003 (220 KB)
Guidance from FHWA and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on highway construction/expansion in flood-prone areas with a look at six states' policies and practices.

Roundabouts Acceptance, 6 pages, November 2002 (256 KB)
Guidance from FHWA and NCHRP reports on how to gain public acceptance; a review of successful state practices.

Truncated Warning Domes, 3 pages, October 2002 (180 KB)
A look at state efforts to meet the accessible guideline standards designating truncated domes as the only approved detectable warnings curb design for the visually impaired.

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Last modified: May 12, 2008