Roads & Bridges features safety grooving as an effective strategy for reducing wet-weather crashes Nearly 800,000 wet-weather auto accidents occur annually, according to a Federal Highway Administration study. Safety grooving offers a direct, cost-effective response. This innovative diamond-cutting technique precisely cuts channels into concrete and asphalt surfaces to improve traction, reduce hydroplaning and channel water away from vehicle tires. The result is better direct

31 years of pavement performance The Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the IGGA recently co-hosted a Specific Pavement Studies Experiment 2 (SPS-2) Tech Day in Ritzville, WA. The SPS-2 sections in Washington are part of the broader Long-Term Pavement performance (LTPP) program, which was created to study how pavements perform over time under real traffic, climate and maintenance conditions. LTPP provided both the research framework and the long-term performa

June 28–July 4: Honor the infrastructure that keeps America moving Mark your calendars. Next week is the inaugural Concrete Pavement Week—running from June 28 through July 4, 2026—and the timing is no coincidence. On June 29, 1956, a significant event occurred that shaped American infrastructure. On that date, President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, launching the Interstate Highway System. Seventy years later, we celebrate the durable, high-performing road

A proven solution for longitudinal joints and cracks in concrete pavement Longitudinal cracking can accelerate slab migration and lead to long-term structural failure. Concrete stitching is a technically sound, minimally intrusive method used to restore integrity before conditions worsen. Cross-stitching uses deformed tie bars to mechanically interlock slabs across a longitudinal crack or unreinforced joint that shows signs of migration. Holes are drilled at 35 to 45 degree

Low noise diamond ground pavement surfaces deliver high-performance on Australia’s newest major motorway The recently opened M12 Motorway, 45 km west of Sydney Central Business District, allows high-speed traffic to travel from the M7 Motorway to The Northern Road in the western suburbs in a growing area of Sydney. More importantly, it is a vital gateway to the new 24-hour Western Sydney International Airport. The motorway consists of two carriageways with two 3.5 m-wide lane

How physical road properties unlock major energy savings MIT research reveals that road design and maintenance impact transportation emissions far more than construction materials. According to Hessam AzariJafari of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, the industry has focused heavily on vehicle efficiency while paying far less attention to the roads those vehicles travel on. That gap may overlook one of the largest energy-saving opportunities in transportation. MIT research

By NICK DAVIS International Grooving and Grinding Association Highway departments face tight budgets and staff shortages while often resorting to costly and invasive “worst-first” repairs. Concrete pavement preservation (CPP) techniques offer an alternative solution by addressing minor issues before they become larger, more expensive problems, and ultimately save billions of dollars for highway agencies. In the early 2000s, the Washington State Department of Transportation (W

A repair material that addresses both short-term demands and long-term objectives Maintaining concrete pavements requires efficient repair strategies to minimize operational downtime. Partial depth repair involves removing isolated areas of a compromised pavement slab and replacing the material to restore surface integrity. Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement is an advanced cementitious material that provides a highly effective solution for these isolated restorations. CSA

Work on Phoenix highways will save $4B in life-cycle resurfacing costs Photo courtesy of Diamond Surface Inc. More than a decade ago, a pavement rehabilitation process called Buried Treasure started gaining momentum. This preservation concept is a technique used to recover an otherwise structurally sound concrete pavement that was overlaid due to functional deficiencies, such as excessive noise or poor ride. Today, the Buried Treasure strategy is helping states across the co

Exploring data on acoustic longevity A 2009 report published by the American Concrete Pavement Association, "Transportation Noise and Concrete Pavements," remains relevant today with transportation noise continuing to be a critical quality-of-life issue and a primary constraint in highway infrastructure design. Managing acoustic impacts while maintaining project budgets, safety standards and collaborative timelines requires a rigorous evaluation of pavement surface technologi

Discover concrete preservation techniques to extend service life and improve safety The architecture, engineering and construction industry is currently navigating a significant trend of escalating costs across highway infrastructure projects. According to Pew, "States are facing an $86 billion shortfall over the next decade for maintaining roads and bridges. And the U.S. is among the most expensive countries for transportation construction; projects typically cost more than

Pavement preservation techniques offer lower-cost repair solutions that last for decades. Safety grooving an airport runway in Ottawa, Canada. Source: IGGA Escalating costs in highway construction present significant challenges for transportation departments and paving contractors. Today’s shifting regulatory and funding priorities—combined with ongoing labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, inflation and volatile material prices—have a substantial influence on project ti

IGGA Announces New Member, EPAV S.A., EMIN Group We are excited to announce that EPAV S.A., EMIN Group has joined the IGGA family as our newest member! EPAV is a leading company specialized in pavement preservation and rehabilitation solutions across Latin America, with over 25 years of experience in advanced technologies such as diamond grinding, grooving, and surface texturing. The company focuses on improving pavement performance, safety, and lifecycle costs through inno

Cost, sustainability and performance of pavement rehabilitation methods Selecting the appropriate rehabilitation method is essential for long-term infrastructure health. Civil engineers, DOT officials and paving contractors constantly evaluate techniques to extend the service life of our roads, highways, airport runways and bridge decks. Choosing between traditional overlays and conventional diamond grinding dictates the future maintenance cycles, safety and resilience of you

How Florida is advancing roadway safety with new pavement grooving trials Florida is taking a proactive approach to roadway infrastructure by implementing new asphalt grooving trial sections. This innovative technique aims to mitigate hydroplaning risks, increase pavement durability and provide a safer driving experience. The state is actively seeking alternatives to Open Graded Asphalt Friction Course (OGFC) due to long-term durability concerns. Safety grooving presents an

The role of DOTs in pavement friction management For decision-makers at departments of transportation (DOTs), managing pavement friction is a critical mandate. Ensuring that road surfaces maintain adequate friction directly impacts crash prevention, infrastructure durability and effective resource allocation. By leveraging advanced friction metrics, DOTs can accurately identify high-risk areas and deploy targeted safety interventions. This proactive, data-driven approach maxi

New report explores the latest findings on safety, durability and performance The Airport Concrete Pavement Technology Program (ACPTP) and the National Concrete Pavement Technology (CP Tech) Center have released a new report, " Effects of Diamond Grinding on Airfield Concrete Pavements. " Sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the report addresses industry concerns regarding restrictive specifications, surface durability and long-term performance. Why diam

IGGA Announces New Member, W.R. Meadows, Inc. We are excited to announce that W.R. Meadows, Inc. has joined the IGGA family as our newest member! W. R. Meadows, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets high-quality building materials for today’s construction professionals. Founded in 1926, they are a family-owned and operated company committed to product quality, outstanding service, and business integrity. The products serve a wide range of construction needs, including hig

A recent pavement preservation project on I-70 in Montgomery County, Missouri, highlights how innovative engineering can enhance roadway safety while delivering significant cost savings. Selected as the project contractor by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), IGGA member Emery Sapp & Sons (ESS) sought a solution that would meet the rigorous safety demands of a high-speed interstate while maximizing the efficiency of their preservation budget. The project’s or

How it works and why it matters The first decade of the 2000s marked a pivotal moment in pavement engineering with the introduction of the Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) . Developed through a robust collaboration between the IGGA, A merican Concrete Pavement Association, Portland Cement Association, Purdue University and the Minnesota DOT, this innovation was engineered specifically to address tire-pavement noise. Unlike traditional surfaces that rely on random tex