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Lil Rhody Takes a Tip from Slovakia with Drainage Grooves

Most people don't know much about the country of Slovakia, but most Rhode Islanders have probably driven over the new Slovakian-inspired drainage grooves on Rt. 295.

Slovakian-inspired drainage grooves on Rt. 295

The Inspiration

"On our trip to Slovakia, back in 2004, we observed an interesting safety feature that they have on some of their highways," said Dan Berman, FHWA Assistant Division Administrator for the state of Rhode Island.

What the group observed was row after row of narrowly-cut drainage grooves that resembled tire tracks. The grooves are meant to increase friction between tires and the road. Also, they remove excess water from flat areas to prevent cars from hydroplaning.

"We thought that it was a really interesting idea, and we thought this technology would be interesting to try back in the United States," Berman said.

The Installation

In October 2006, the drainage grooves were cut into north-bound Rt. 295 just north of the Rt. 6 interchange. Another set was also installed on the north-bound ramp connecting Rt. 6 to Rt. 295.

A total of 150 ft of grooves were cut over two nights. They were cut at a 45 degree angle to provide a "noiseless profile" for comfortable driving and also to avoid damaging snowplows in the winter.

The Tools

Workers from Panbro Sales Corp. in Providence created a special cutting head, which they attached to a concrete saw. The saw grooves are cut approximately 4-5mm deep in the pavement five grooves at once.

The Cost

The cost of manufacturing the cutting head came to $20,000, but it is likely to get more use in the future.

The Outcome

The FHWA Rhode Island Division is still waiting to see how well the grooves work.

"We've put together a little review plan and we're going to…evaluate the grooves over time," Berman said. "The noiseless profile pavement grooving drainage system is the first of its kind in the United States. The idea is to prevent future accidents."