USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Case Study: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's High Friction Surface Treatment and Field Installation Program


            
            In This Section
        Pavement Friction
                Friction Management
                Continuous Pavement Friction Measurement (CPFM)
                Traditional Friction Treatments
                High Friction Surface Treatment
                Case Studies and Noteworthy Practices
                FAQs, Links, and Other Resources
                
                SECTION 2: Brief History of High Friction Surface Treatments and Their Benefit
SECTION 2: Brief History of High Friction Surface Treatments and Their Benefit

HFSTs were originally developed in the United States during the 1950s using epoxy resin, but their use has increased in recent years. An HFST wearing surface has been successfully used in Europe and Asia for decades, including on a wide scale in London in the early 1970's. HFST wearing surface has also been tried and proven at a wide variety of sites as part of the FHWA's Surface Enhancements at Horizontal Curves (SEAHC) demonstration program. State-of-the-art friction measurement equipment has been used to verify the improved friction available after installation as well as to determine how well treated surfaces retain that friction over time.

Kentucky decided to use HFST to assist in effectively reducing highway fatalities. The following are other benefits for using this safety treatment:

HFST provides a durable and long-lasting solution for specific and defined roadway locations where a contributing factor in crashes is that the roadway friction demand exceeds the available pavement surface friction. HFST is a safety treatment that happens to be a pavement treatment.
	The reported service life of HFST is approximately 10 years based on European experience and the oldest projects in the United States. Based on the performance of the initial projects placed in Kentucky since 2009, it is believed KYTC will realize a similar service life.
	The benefit-cost ratio is many times higher for HFST when compared with other alternatives because the crash reductions continue for many years and the cost of other solutions–such as straightening horizontal curves–can be cost prohibitive and include significant environmental and right-of-way impacts.
	Experience and data from Kentucky show HFST can be used where most needed, such as ramps and freeways, two-lane urban or rural roads at horizontal curves, areas near steep grades, areas at or near lane changes, and at rural and urban intersections.
	Project lengths can be short, and because the HFST sets up quickly, the treatment can be applied in hours, resulting in minimal construction work zone impacts on local traffic.
	HFST can be applied by equipment at a similar speed to other paving surface treatments, or it can be applied with hand tools.
	HFST can be installed on both asphalt and portland cement concrete surfaces. The pavement, however, must be in fair condition to realize the desired service life.
      
  Book traversal links for SECTION 2: Brief History of High Friction Surface Treatments and Their Benefit
      ‹ SECTION 1: Introduction
                    Up
                    SECTION 3: Kentucky's HFST Program ›
                
                Book:Case Study: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's High Friction Surface Treatment and Field Installation Program
              Acknowledgements
                Technical Report Documentation Form
                Executive Summary
                SECTION 1: Introduction
                SECTION 2: Brief History of High Friction Surface Treatments and Their Benefit
                SECTION 3: Kentucky's HFST Program
                SECTION 4: HFST Site Selection Process
                SECTION 5: Data Collection and Analysis in Support of the HFST Program
                SECTION 6: Contracting and Constructing HFST
                SECTION 7: Project Examples of HFST Application
                References U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us