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                        Safety
                        Roadway Departure Safety
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                        SafetyEdge


            
            In This Section
        SafetyEdge
                General Information
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                Pavement and Maintenance
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   Program Contact
      Paul LaFleur
      
                    
            Roadway Departure Program Manager
      
                    
            FHWA Office of Safety
      
                
    **Email:**paul.lafleur@dot.gov**Phone:** 515-233-7308
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Design and Construction
    

    
    
          Photo: Roadway EquipmentDuring conventional paving processes, pavement is constructed with vertical or near-vertical edges. The SafetyEdgeSM instead forms the edge of the pavement into a with a consolidated slope of approximately 30 degrees. This provides a strong, durable transition for vehicles that traverse the pavement edge and helps prevents pavement edge raveling. Research has shown this "transition from on-roadway surface to shoulder and back is so smooth it defies assignment of any degree of severity."

By including the SafetyEdgeSM detail while paving, this safety countermeasure can be implemented system-wide at little to no cost.

**SafetyEdgeSM Design & Construction Guide** – [HTML, PDF]. This guide shares the findings from ten demonstration projects in multiple states and other ad hoc projects in which the SafetyEdgeSM was implemented. The Guide provides information on the various elements to consider when designing and constructing pavement projects with the SafetyEdgeSM, insights and lessons learned on previously constructed projects, and highlights items that may vary from conventional pavement design and construction.
	**Guide Specification for SafetyEdgeSM** – [HTML, PDF]. This is an instruction guide detailing the cross-sectional dimensions, the construction methods, the equipment required etc., to incorporate a SafetyEdgeSM on a pavement.FIELD REPORTS

**Delaware SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Seaford**– [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, warm mix asphalt (WMA) overlay project near Seaford, Delaware. SafetyEdgeSM paving devices from two manufacturers were demonstrated during this project.
	**Iowa HMA SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Jasper County** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project on Route F62 between the villages of Sully and Lynnville, Iowa. The TransTech Shoulder Wedge Maker was demonstrated during this project.
	**Iowa PCC SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Fairview** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of the SafetyEdgeSM on a two lane highway Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) overlay project on County Highway E34 in the vicinity of Fairview, Iowa.
	**Maine SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Turner** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of the SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project in Turner, Maine. The Advant-Edger, TransTech Shoulder Wedge Maker, and TransTech Notched Wedge Joint Maker devices were demonstrated during this project.
	**Mississippi SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Columbus** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of the SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project on State Route 182 near Columbus, Mississippi. The TransTech Shoulder Wedge Maker was demonstrated during this project.
	**North Carolina SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project on Brogden Road** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, warm mix asphalt (WMA) overlay project on Brogden Road in Johnston County, North Carolina. The Troxler SafeTSlope Edge Smoother and a device developed by NCDOT were demonstrated during this project.
	**North Carolina SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project on Little Divine Road** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of the SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project on Little Divine Road in Johnston County, North Carolina. The Carlson end gate device was demonstrated during this project.
	**Nebraska SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Kearney** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project near Kearney, Nebraska. The TransTech Shoulder Wedge Maker device was demonstrated during this project.
	**Pennsylvania SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Elizabethtown** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. The Advant-Edger device was demonstrated during this project.
	**Wisconsin SafetyEdgeSM Demonstration Project in Menominee County** – [PDF]. This field report documents the observations made on the construction of SafetyEdgeSM on a two-lane highway, hot mix asphalt (HMA) overlay project in Menominee County, Wisconsin. SafetyEdgeSM paving devices from two manufacturers were demonstrated during this project.
              
      
    
          Last updated: Friday, August 25, 2023 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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