Details:

Creators:
Strong, Kelly C. ; Vasques, Rodolfo Valdes
Strong, Kelly C. ; Vasques, Rodolfo Valdes Less -
Corporate Creators:
Colorado State University
Corporate Contributors:
United States. Federal Highway Administration
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Debris Removal Highway Maintenance Maintenance Equipment Occupational Safety Technological Innovations Traffic Safety
Publication/ Report Number:
CDOT-2014-9
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Colorado
Corporate Publisher:
Colorado. Dept. of Transportation. Applied Research and Innovation Branch
Abstract:
Highway debris represents a traffic safety problem that requires a prompt response from state or local transportation

agencies. The most common practice for debris removal currently is for agency personnel to leave their vehicles and

remove the debris by hand in the case of large debris (tires, lumber, freight loss, rock fall) or to sweep traveled lanes,

shoulders, or intersections in the case of crashes, mechanical failure, or embankment erosion. This exposes agency

workers to safety risks, especially on high-speed and/or high-volume roadways. Currently, the Colorado Department

of Transportation (CDOT) has no widely distributed formal guidelines for safely and effectively removing debris

from the roadway.

Equipment modifications and innovations have been developed that can remove debris from highways without

exposing agency workers to moving traffic. Innovative equipment has been introduced to the market which allows

for high-speed debris removal, such as the Gator Getter®.

Through a combination of field observations, interviews with CDOT personnel, equipment manufacturers, and other

state DOTs, the research concluded that the Gator Getter is very effective for collecting tire treads on smooth

(asphalt) pavements where operating speeds can be maintained above 45 MPH. The effectiveness of the Gator Getter

decreases when operating speeds drop below 45 MPH and on rougher pavements such as shoulders or tined concrete

pavements. Both the safety and effectiveness decline when the Gator Getter is used on mixed debris, scattered or

longitudinal debris, and low visibility conditions. The Gator Getter should not be used on segmented pavements,

bridge decks, or railroad tracks, and should not be used to collect rocks, concrete fragments, or metal objects.

Implementation

The Gator Getter is recommended for use in clearing tire debris from smooth asphalt roadways in locations where

speeds can be maintained above 45 MPH.


Format:
PDF
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:b36b14bf95c942070b15ce826df0a08a0fb209d4ea779febc1ea6d0da8941c78
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27731/dot_27731_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

More +