University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering
Illinois Center for Transportation

New ICT-IDOT reports

1/23/2024 McCall Macomber

Illinois Center for Transportation is pleased to announce the publication of reports from the following Illinois Department of Transportation-sponsored projects, in order of publication.

R27-246: Development of Design Guidance for Smart Work Zone Systems
Juan Pava, Illinois Department of Transportation
Khaled El-Rayes, Yanfeng Ouyang and Ernest-John Ignacio, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

In Illinois, 6,406 work zone crashes occurred, on average, per year from 2015 to 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. That’s why effectively and quickly communicating real-time travel information in work zones is key to helping Illinois “Drive Zero Fatalities to a Reality.”
In Illinois, 6,406 work zone crashes occurred, on average, per year from 2015 to 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. That’s why effectively and quickly communicating real-time travel information in work zones is key to helping Illinois “Drive Zero Fatalities to a Reality.”

Smart work zone systems collect real-time data such as speed and traffic volume and display travel information to drivers when they are approaching work zones.

Here researchers developed guidelines for Illinois to help determine when smart work zone systems are needed as well as how to design them and ensure these systems are adequately operating.

Their goal was to ensure that smart work zone systems in Illinois are effectively used, which will help reduce traffic incidents as well as increase mobility and cost savings.

R27-221: Chip Seal Quality Assurance Using Percent Embedment
Ahmad Alhasan, Applied Research Associates
John Senger, Illinois Department of Transportation

Chip seal application is used to maintain and preserve deteriorated pavements. It is also used to restore surface texture and friction to improve skid resistance and improve the safety of a roadway.
Chip seal application is used to maintain and preserve deteriorated pavements. It is also used to restore surface texture and friction to improve skid resistance and improve the safety of a roadway.

Chip seals are used to seal fine cracks on the surfaces of rural roads and prevent the intrusion of water. Embedding the chips into the residual asphalt between 50% and 70% is one of the best ways to ensure their performance.

The goal of this project was to develop a test method using macrotexture measurements to quickly and safely determine the percent embedment of the chips in the residual asphalt. By extending the service life of chip seals, IDOT will spend less money on road maintenance and reduce the number of construction zones.

R27-SP58: Investigating Statewide Transit Maintenance Needs in Illinois
Yanfeng Ouyang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Charles Abraham and Zoe Keller, Illinois Department of Transportation

Illinois Department of Transportation provides capital and operating funding to more than 50 public transit agencies statewide. Maintenance costs are the second-highest expense category for those transit agencies after vehicle-operating costs.
Illinois Department of Transportation provides capital and operating funding to more than 50 public transit agencies statewide. Maintenance costs are the second-highest expense category for those transit agencies after vehicle-operating costs.

Fleet maintenance — one of the most important aspects of transit systems — is the second-highest expense category for public transit agencies.

IDOT currently has two regional maintenance centers, where transit agencies can outsource vehicle maintenance that they may not be able to perform locally. Here researchers documented how transit providers across Illinois currently use those facilities and recommended improvements to that network.

Expanding regional maintenance centers to increase operational efficiency will allow both urban and rural transit agencies to reduce maintenance costs while hopefully increasing transit services.

R27-SP63: Review of Illinois Multiple Stress Creep and Recovery Data for Future Implementation
Ramez Hajj, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Kelly Morse, Illinois Department of Transportation

Properly designing and selecting asphalt binder allows pavements to better withstand rutting — a common deterioration in pavement. The multiple stress creep and recovery test is used to detect asphalt binder’s potential for rutting and can better capture of the effect of polymer modification on asphalt binder.
Properly designing and selecting asphalt binder allows pavements to better withstand rutting — a common deterioration in pavement. The multiple stress creep and recovery test is used to detect asphalt binder’s potential for rutting and can better capture of the effect of polymer modification on asphalt binder.

Rutting, or permanent deformation, is one of the most critical distresses in flexible pavements which causes a safety hazard due to the potential for hydroplaning of vehicles. Asphalt binder — an adhesive that holds aggregates in pavement together — can lead to rutting if it is not sufficiently stiff and resilient.

Researchers examined the performance of asphalt binders using historic multiple stress creep and recovery test data from IDOT. This project aimed to make recommendations on potential updates to the current binder specification for IDOT that captures high-temperature performance grading using MSCR.

A better understanding of how to specify asphalt binders will improve asphalt mixtures and pavements, leading to safer roadways that require less maintenance.

R27-229: Evaluation of Net-free Erosion Control Blankets
Rabin Bhattarai, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Scott Marlow, Illinois Department of Transportation

Stormwater runoff at improperly managed construction sites is one of the leading causes of soil erosion. One method to combat soil erosion is the use of erosion control blankets, which prevent soil particles from being transported during rainfall.
Stormwater runoff at improperly managed construction sites is one of the leading causes of soil erosion. One method to combat soil erosion is the use of erosion control blankets, which prevent soil particles from being transported during rainfall.

Plastic mesh used in erosion control blankets is known to entangle wildlife, not break down properly and introduce microplastics into waterways. 

The goal of this project was to determine the viability of erosion control blankets that do not contain plastic mesh, such as those with natural fibers, for use on IDOT projects.

Effective use of erosion control blankets with non-plastic mesh will help reduce the amount of microplastics introduced into waterways and reduce wildlife mortality.

R27-256: Work Zone Queue Analysis Training Classes
Ray Benekohal, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Juan Pava, Illinois Department of Transportation

From 2016 to 2020, there were an average of 6,078 work zone crashes each year in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. That’s why accurately predicting the mobility impacts caused by construction projects is key to making work zones safer.
From 2016 to 2020, there were an average of 6,078 work zone crashes each year in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. That’s why accurately predicting the mobility impacts caused by construction projects is key to making work zones safer.

The goal of this project was to provide training on work zone impact analysis programs to designers, allowing them to more accurately predict the mobility impacts caused by construction activities.

Determining potential backups and delays is essential to identify what safety countermeasures and alternatives for traffic management are needed during construction. By being able to accurately predict the mobility impacts of work zones, designers will be able to identify and implement countermeasures to improve mobility and safety in work zones.