Adhesives Help Cars Stick to the Road (7/22/09)

A steep hill near Columbus, Ohio, gets traction with epoxy and aggregate applied to the surface.

It sounds like something out of a Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoon – adding glue to the roadway to make it stickier. But this is no cartoon – it’s reality for a hill in central Ohio.

 

The intersection of the Powell Road and state Route 315 outside of Columbus has more than its share of rear-end collisions, says the Ohio Department of Transportation.

 

An article in ThisWeek newspaper explains how a steep hill and wet pavement combine to cause many accidents at the intersection, which is not far from the ASI offices.

 

Now, ODOD is implementing a solution that has had good results in other states, including Colorado, Arizona, Washington and Pennsylvania.

 

ODOD spokesman Brian Hedge explained to ThisWeek that the solution involves an epoxy being spread on the roadway and allowed to set up. Next, aggregate, or small stones, are added to the top. Once the glue dries, the excess aggregate is removed and the surface that’s left has much more grip than traditional asphalt pavement.

 

It’s a welcome solution for locals who drive the streets every day – and actually costs less than traditional asphalt, according to the article. What’s more, it’s a new and innovative way to use adhesives and bring attention to their myriad applications.