​(June 23, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin a $5.7 million project next week to improve vehicle traction on loop ramps within interchanges and sections of roads that contain significant curves. Work is expected to be complete by the end of the year, weather permitting. 

The High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) increases traction of vehicle tires on pavement surfaces, especially on wet surfaces. The greater the surface friction, the more control drivers have of their vehicles. MDOT SHA chose interchange ramps with significant curves in Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties. 

“These types of pavement treatments are proven to improve friction and reduce crashes on interchange ramps,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Tim Smith. “Taking these steps will help us deliver on our promise to help drivers reach their destinations as safely as possible.” 

Crews will work on one area at a time and will close ramps and implement detours Sunday nights through Friday mornings from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning. Additional work times and lane closures may be needed to complete all projects. Each ramp or steep curve treatment will take about three days to complete. The project will begin at locations in Montgomery County and proceed to Frederick, Howard, Baltimore, and Anne Arundel counties. HFST will also take place in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties.

MDOT SHA first employed this pavement treatment in 2017 to interchange ramps in Anne Arundel and Frederick counties with a history of high property damage crashes.  

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Pennsylvania, Kentucky and South Carolina transportation departments have used HFST applications, reducing crashes by 100%, 90% and 57% respectively for HFST trial projects. The technology is part of the FHWA’s Every Day Counts initiative​ to speed up the delivery of highway projects and to address the challenges presented by limited budgets. MDOT SHA’s contractor for the HFST project is Southern Road and Bridge, LLC of Tarpon Springs, FL.

MDOT SHA works hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones for our crews as well as our customers. Drivers need to stay alert, focus on driving, look for reduced speed limits and other driving pattern changes. Please drive like you work here and slowdown in construction zones. For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, visit Project Portal. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.