FRANKFORT, KY - As part of a highway safety program, a contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has installed a new surface treatment to help improve traction and reduce skidding at a number of locations across the state. The locations were chosen based on crashes that happened during wet weather when traction can be an issue.

Workers apply a resin polymer to the driving surface which bonds a high friction bauxite aggregate to the roadway.

The material can be used on both asphalt and concrete roadways, and is resistant to snow plowing and salt applications.

In KYTC District 1 the special high friction surface treatment has been installed along a section of US 60 in the Dyer Hill Curve area of Livingston County, along a section of KY 348 in Marshall County and at a number of other locations.

So far, approximately 49,000 square yards of the treatment have been applied to 50 highway sections across the state. That's enough to cover about ten acres.

Highway engineers will be evaluating the sites to determine if the coating successfully reduces wet weather crashes. It may take 3 to 4 years of monitoring crash data to determine if the material provides better traction during wet weather. About 20% of Kentucky's highway crashes occur during conditions when road surfaces are wet or snow-covered.

Kentucky is one of 19 states using High Friction Surface Treatment.