GROOVING TREATMENT

THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AT A HAZARDOUS LOCATION ON I-85 IN NORTH CAROLINA HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BY GROOVES CUT IN THE CONCRETE SURFACE OF A CURVE. A "BEFORE AND AFTER" STUDY MADE BY THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE HIGHWAYS COMMISSION HAS REVEALED THAT TOTAL ACCIDENTS WERE REDUCED OVER 94 PERCENT (ACCIDENT RATE PER MILLION VEHICLES REDUCED FROM 4.84 TO 0.25). THE EVALUATION PERIODS WERE 14 1/2 MONTHS BEFORE AND 14 1/2 MONTHS AFTER THE IMPROVEMENT WAS MADE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE GROOVING, WHICH COST A TOTAL OF $6,570 IS PAYING FOR ITSELF THROUGH REDUCED INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THE RATE OF $10,000 PER YEAR. LONGITUDINAL GROOVES 1/8 INCH DEEP AND 1/8 INCH WIDE AND 3/4 INCH APART WERE CUT AT CRITICAL LOCATIONS ON THE CURVE. THE GROOVES ACT AS "TRACKS" RESISTING LATERAL MOVEMENT AND STABILIZING THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO SERVE AS QUICK SURFACE DRAINS TO MINIMIZE ANY WATER BUILDUP ON THE PAVEMENT. /ARTICLE/

• Corporate Authors:

  Roadways

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Stafford, E Y
• Publication Date: 1969-1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Crash rates; Economic benefits; Economic efficiency; Highway curves; Pavement grooving; Pavements; Soil stabilization; Surface drainage; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency; Stabilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Grooves; Highway drainage; Lateral movement
• Subject Areas: Economics; Geotechnology; Highways; Pavements; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00207187
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Public Works
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 19 1970 12:00AM