Run-Off-Road Collisions: Appendix 6

Description of Iowa DOT Experimental Program to Delineate Hazardous Utility Poles

Emphasis Area
Run-off-Road and Head-On Crashes

Strategy Name
Experimental utility pole delineation to reduce ROR crashes

Agency and Jurisdiction
Iowa Department of Transportation

Problem(s) Identified
Using a statewide analysis of utility pole impacts conducted by the Center for Transportation Research and Education (CTRE) at Iowa State University, the Iowa DOT found three of the highest ranked sites to be located in one city. While the preferred methods of mitigating high-crash locations involving utility poles are either to remove or relocate the poles, neither was feasible at these sites.

Goals and Objectives Established
To implement an experimental treatment involving the delineation of utility poles in high-ROR corridors in order to study the effectiveness and operation of the treatment. The ultimate goal is to reduce the rate of run-off-road collisions at such locations.

Description of Strategy(ies) Implemented
In this pilot-test, crash-prone utility poles that cannot be relocated or removed are being marked with a single band of 6-inch white reflective tape. Because the Pennsylvania DOT has found that the utility pole tape can become detached and slide down the pole within a year in some cases, Iowa used an additional special adhesive to increase the life of the tape. They are exploring the future use even more secure taping or reflective markers.

Summary of Implementation Effort
The first sites to receive the treatment are three 5-10 block corridors in Muscatine, Iowa. These sites were the first, second and 15th ranked high-crash locations involving utility poles for the state. One of the corridors was a four-lane street with higher speeds. The others included a 90-degree "bend" in the section. Iowa DOT worked with the city (who owned the utility) in this effort, implementing the treatment in mid-2002. They are now beginning to expand the pilot test to DOT districts.

Summary of Results
This treatment has only recently been implemented and has not been evaluated at this time. Thus, it is clearly an experimental treatment.

Contact Person and Information
Tom Welch, State Transportation Safety Engineer. Iowa DOT, (515) 239-1267.