High Friction Surface 

Treatments 

PROJECT CASE STUDY 

Since Roads can be dangerous, maintaining the appropriate amount of pavement friction is critical for safe 

driving. Over time, pavement friction can be affected by things like excessive braking and severe weather 

conditions. This can cause vehicles to skid, leading to high crash rates. 

High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) is an emerging, proven technology that combats friction loss. At spot 

locations where friction demands far exceed existing pavement friction, high-quality aggregate is applied to help 

motorists maintain better control in dry and wet driving conditions. This can dramatically reduce crashes and 

related injuries and fatalities. 

While most applications of HFST occur at curves, intersections can also benefit from HFST. Vehicles at intersections 

require greater longitudinal friction force o come to a safe stop. HFST can provide this friction, and this helps to 

compensate for other safety issues at intersections, such as the lack of adequate sight distance and the need for 

additional braking distance at a downgrade approach. 

The following case study illustrates the benefits of applying HFST at a downgrade approach to a signalized 

intersection. 

HFST at the intersection of Forest Drive and Cole Creek Parkway 

in Bellevue, Washington results in 78 percent fewer accidents per year 

Associated accident costs dropped by 83 percent 

The City of Bellevue in Washington State installed the HFST 'Tyre-grip' on the westbound approach of Forest Drive at 

its intersection with Cole Creek Parkway in Bellevue in October 2004 (resurfaced again in May 2007 due to a surface 

water issue). This is a downgrade intersection approach 

often affected by icy weather conditions. Approximately 

35,000 vehicles use the westbound approach weekly. 

Bellevue tried several countermeasures, including 

installing a large flashing warning sign at the bottom of 

the grade, additional road markers, new street lights, and 

raised pavement buttons, but did not achieve the desired 

result. After applying HFST, accidents at this intersection 

dropped 78% and costs associated with accidents 

declined by 83%. 

ADVOCATING FOR HFST 

The HFST product speaks for itself – because it works. State and local DOTs, however, are often at the mercy of 

tight budgets and resources. The key to proving the value of HFST is to highlight its durability over the product 

life cycle. When measured over time, HFSTs are more cost-effective than traditional paving because they last 

longer. This also means less labor resources are used to fix pavement friction issues, and fewer construction 

projects reduces the number of construction-zone related accidents. HFST can also be applied as a spot 

treatment only on areas where friction is affected, rather than treating the entire road—saving time, money, 

and resources. 
Keys to Success 

` Emphasize cost savings over time when compared to geometric improvements, or removal and 

replacement of existing pavement 

` Highlight Rapid Implementation and product durability over the life cycle 

` Demonstrate the value of spot-treating low friction areas, rather than treating or repaving the entire road 

` Communicate the benefits to the public and elected officials 

BENEFITS OF HFST 

Safety Operations Cost 

` Enhances safety by im- ` Customizable to a wide range of uses—road ` Initial inst

proving driver control owners can identify and spot treat areas where costs are

of vehicles and reduc- friction demand is the highest, such as: than con

ing stopping distances paveme • two-lane urban/rural roads at horizontal curves durability ` Reduces skidding in • areas near steep grades limited u

both wet and icy • areas at or near lane changes locations

weather conditions (on lower-co • urban intersections both roads and pedes- over its lif

trian walkways) • bus or bike lanes expecta

` Significantly reduces • surfaces that tend to ice (such as bridges or to 7 year

primary and secondary pedestrian walkways) traffic an

for light t crashes, fatalities, and ` Uses highly-durable aggregates that are polish injuries and wear resistant and develops texture to pre- ` Less exp

vent water buildup on wet surfaces than ge

improve ` Designed to set quickly—HFST can be applied as super by machine at a similar speed to other paving removin surface treatments existing ` Can be installed over virtually all pavement ` A range types, and can be colored for delineation pur- treatme poses are avail

` Requires minimal additional pavement thickness and oth

(1/8”– 1/4”) in areas where overhead clearance effective

allation 

 higher 

ventional 

nt, but the 

 of HFST and 

se in critical 

 make it a 

st option 

e cycle. Life 

ncy of HFST is 5 

s under heavy 

d 10 to15 years 

raffic 

ensive 

ometric 

ments (such 

elevation) or 

g and replacing

pavement 

of HFST 

nt products 

able now, 

er, more cost-

 products are is limited in development 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

` Federal Highway Administration, EDC Initiatives, 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/edctwo/2012/friction.cfm. 

` Public Roads Magazine, Gaining Traction In Roadway Safety: 

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/publicroads/08july/05.cfm 

` Mark Poch, Bellevue City Government, Washington State, MPoch@bellevuewa.gov 

For additional 

information, 

please contact: 

Joseph Cheung, P.E. 

High Friction Surface Treatment Lead 

Safety & Design Engineer 

FHWA Office of Safety 

joseph.cheung@dot.gov 

Every Day Counts (EDC), a State-based initiative of FHWA’s Center for Accelerating 

Innovation, works with State, local and private sector partners to encourage the adoption of 

proven technologies and innovations aimed at shortening and enhancing project delivery

FHWA-CAI-14-016

www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts