FINAL REPORT ON SAFETY EDGESM TECHNOLOGY

OPEN HOUSE AND DEMONSTRATION ON OCTOBER 21, 2015

In partnership with FHWA’s Safety Edge Team, the California LTAP Center hosted a Safety 

EdgeSM Technology Open House and Demonstration as follows:

Date of Event: Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Meeting Site: Kings County Government Center

1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Building #1

Hanford, CA 93230

Project Site: Hanford Armona Road project:

4.1 miles of Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) overlay at 0.15’ thickness

Safety Edge Used: Papich Construction Inc. used the Carlson End Gate.

Agenda and 

Handouts: 

See attached agenda and PowerPoint slides.

Total Participants: There were a total of 17 participants with representation from three 

counties and four engineering firms (see attached list).

Local Agency: Kings County Public Works Department

Contractor: Papich Construction Co., Inc.

FHWA 

Representatives:

Ken Kochevar

Safety Program Manager

FHWA California Division Office

Marketing: A flyer was developed and circulated as follows:

• Kings County sent an email to their local contacts on 10/9/15.

• LTAP sent an email announcement to their mailing list on 10/9/15.

• The California Asphalt Pavement Association posted an article in their

weekly electronic newsletter on 10/12/15.
Transportation: Bus transportation was provided for the participants to/from the meeting 

room to the project site.

Evaluations: An electronic survey was emailed to the participants after the 

demonstration. Four responses were received (see attached).

• Three respondents had utilized the Safety Edge prior to the

demonstration. The respondent who had not used the Safety Edge 

replied that they would consider using it on an upcoming project.

• The four respondents rated the demonstration as ‘Very Good’ or

‘Excellent.’

Total Cost: $3,000

Summary: There were two noticeable observations from this demonstration.

1) The paving contractor does not like to use the Safety Edge when the

project limits include driveways that intersect the main roadway where

the interval of driveways is less than 100’ or so. The screed operator

must raise and lower the shoe while moving the end gate out and back

in. Until this operation is automated, contractors will not like placing

the SE where minor roadways or driveways intersect the main roadway

at short intervals.

2) Securing a contractor who is willing to work with the contracting

agency is very important when there are any variables needed in

placing the SE. In this case, the rolling pattern had to be adjusted

slightly due to the type of mix. During the first day, the Carlson End

Gate agent asked the breakdown roller to stay off the edge a foot or so

to give the edge a chance to “setup.” When he did this the SE had a

straight uniform edge that measured right around 30 degrees after the

second pass. However, the second day there was a new roller operator

that would or did not want to listen to anyone and rolled over the edge

on the initial breakdown pass. This created an edge that “bulged” out.

This is something that would need to be spelled out in the contract

specifications or worked out during a test strip before the project

starts.

Attachments: 

• Flyer

• List of Participants

• Agenda and PowerPoint Slides

• Photos from Demonstration

• Evaluation Survey Results
ATTACHMENTS 
Safety Edgesm Technology 

Open House and Demonstration

The Kings County Public Works Department, in cooperation with the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), Caltrans Division of Local Assistance/California LTAP Center, 

California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA), and Papich Construction Co., Inc., is 

hosting an open house to demonstrate the constructability of the Safety EdgeSM for 

mitigating pavement edge drop-off.

The purpose of the Safety EdgeSM is to reduce run-off-the-road crashes by facilitating errant 

driver’s safe return to the road by providing a durable, user-friendly, recoverable edge of 

pavement. 

The Safety EdgeSM is created by a shoe installed on the paver screed to create a 30-degree 

consolidated wedge.

Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

9:00 Sign-in and introductions

9:15 Presentations and Project Overview

11:15 Board bus and drive to project site

11:45-12:30 Paving demonstration

12:30-1:00 Board bus and return to meeting room

1:00-2:00 Lunch served

Location: Kings County Government Center in Hanford

(1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Building #1, Administration Multi-Purpose Room)

Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch and transportation to/from the meeting location

and the project site on Hanford Armona Road) 

Bring: For your safety, please bring a hard hat and vest. 

You must register by October 16 by emailing your contact information to 

californialtap@cce.csus.edu. Space is limited so register today!
SAFETY EDGE OPEN HOUSE AND DEMONSTRATION LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

OCTOBER 21, 2015, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM

KINGS COUNTY

Title Organization

1 Design Engineer Mark Thomas & Company

2 Inspector NV5

3 Fresno County Public Works

4 Principal Engineer NCM Engineering Corporation

5 Project Engineer TRC Solutions

6 Construction Manager NV5

7 Senior Design Engineer Mark Thomas & Company

8 Road Maintenance Superintendent Fresno County Public Works

9 Engineer III Tulare County Resource Management Agency

10 Director California LTAP Center

11 Program Manager California LTAP Center

12 Safety Program Manager FHWA California Division Office

13 Chief Engineer Kings County Public Works Department

14 Road Superintendent Kings County Public Works Department

15 Product Support Manager Carlson Paving

16 Area Manager Papich Construction, Inc.

17 Papich Construction, Inc.
Safety EdgeSM Technology

Open House and Demonstration

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Kings County Government Center

1400 W. Lacey Boulevard, Hanford

9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions: 

• Dominic Tyburski, P.E., Chief Engineer, Kings County Public

Works Department

9:15 AM Presentations and Project Overview: 

• Ken Kochevar, Safety Program Manager, FHWA California

Division Office

• Dominic Tyburski

• David Cruce, Area Manager, Papich Construction, Inc.

11:15 – 11:30 AM Board Bus and Drive to Project Site

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM Paving Demonstration

12:45 – 1:00 PM Board Bus and Return to Meeting Room

1:00 – 2:00 PM Lunch and Q&A