July-August 2002

Center for Transportation Research and Education

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Keeping county roadsides safe

ROW . . . continued on page 2

HAZARDS in county road right-of-ways (ROWs)can pose major, even fatal, danger to drivers.They also represent potential liability problemsfor landowners/tenants and the county. BobSperry, Story County engineer, is working withresidents to keep county roadsides safe.

The problemIn Story County, more than a third of accidentson county roads involve vehicles that leave theroadway.1 Obstructions in the ROW—drivewayretaining walls, fences, and even mailboxsupports—increase the likelihood that errantvehicles will be damaged and passengers injured.Crops in the ROW can limit visibility and drain-age, especially in inclement weather, which is anadditional hazard for drivers.

Landowners and tenants may not be aware thatthe Code of Iowa requires county boards ofsupervisors to maintain safe recovery areas inROWs2 or that the county-controlled ROWincludes not only the traveled portion of theroadway but also shoulders, embankments, andditches—including ditches in front of privateproperty.

Sometimes landowners or tenants build struc-tures in the ROW to improve aesthetics, conve-nience, or access without fully considering thesafety and liability implications. If a crash occursinvolving one of those structures, the county, theproperty owner/tenant, and whoever constructedthe object might be held liable.

The solutionWorking closely with the public, Sperry hasbegun an active campaign to improve ROWsafety in Story County. Efforts include

• communicating with the public about ROWhazards,

• taking a countywide inventory of privatestructures in the ROW,

• on a safety-priority basis, contacting landown-ers/tenants who have existing hazards and, whenpossible, providing assistance for removing thehazards, and,

• developing a county ordinance prohibiting un-authorized use of ROW without a permit. Theordinance provides the county with a specificmechanism for enforcing the Code of Iowa’sgeneral requirements regarding ROW hazards.

Communication efforts Sperry suggests include pre-paring informational news releases for local media,posting information on the county website, and pre-senting information to local groups, including theboard of supervisors, developers, and landscapers.Story County developed a one-page flier aboutROW safety to distribute to interested individualsand groups.

3 Selecting pavement marking materials:Balancing initial cost and durability

4 Traffic calming: an option in Iowa?5 MUTCD compliance dates:

January 20035 These websites work for you6 It’s hot out there!

8 Road workers and skin cancer 9 E.Z. rack simplifies hauling, unloading

pipe10 New library acquisitions11 CTRE-Iowa DOT library partnership

expands knowledge base12 Conference calendar

Acronyms in this issue

AASHTO American Association of State Highwayand Transportation Officials

CTRE Center for Transportation Research and Education

FHWA Federal Highway Administration

Iowa DOT Iowa Department of Transportation

ISU Iowa State University

LTAP Local Technical Assistance Program

MUTCD Manual on Uniform Traffic ControlDevices

Some mailbox supports in the right-of-way can be dangerousfor errant vehicles.

2 JUL–AUG 2002

Preparation of this newsletter wasfinanced through LTAP, a nationwide

effort financed jointly in Iowa by theFHWA and the Iowa DOT. Iowa’s

LTAP is housed and administered atISU’s Center for Transportation

Research and Education (CTRE).

The mission of Iowa’s LTAP:To foster a safe, efficient, environmen-

tally sound transportation system byimproving skills and knowledge of localtransportation providers through train-

ing, technical assistance, and technol-ogy transfer, thus improving the

quality of life for Iowans.

Subscriptions to Technology News arefree. We welcome readers’ comments,

questions, and suggestions. Tosubscribe, or to obtain permission to

reprint articles, contact the editor.

ISU Research Park2901 S. Loop Drive, Suite 3100

Ames, Iowa 50010-8632Telephone: 515-294-8103

Fax: 515-294-0467www.ctre.iastate.edu/

Stephen J. AndrleDirector of CTRE

andrle@iastate.edu

Duane SmithDirector of Iowa LTAP

desmith@iastate.edu

Marcia BrinkEditor

mbrink@iastate.edu

Tom McDonaldSafety Circuit Rider

tmcdonal@iastate.edu

Sharon ProchnowProgram Coordinator

prochnow@iastate.edu

Mark Anderson-WilkMichele Regenold

Contributing Writers

Any reference to a commercial organi-zation or product in this newsletter isintended for informational purposes

only and not as an endorsement. Theopinions, findings, or recommenda-

tions expressed here do not necessarilyreflect the views of LTAP sponsors.

The materials herein are provided forgeneral information, and neither LTAP

nor its sponsors represent that thesematerials are adequate or sufficient for

the purposes of the user without appro-priate expert advice. ISU makes no

representations or warranties, expressor implied, as to the accuracy of any

information herein and disclaimsliability for any inaccuracies.

Iowa State University and the Centerfor Transportation Research and

Education provide equal opportunitiesand comply with requirements of the

Americans with Disabilities Act inprograms and employment. Call the

Affirmative Action Office,515-294-7612, to report

discrimination.

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SOY INKTM

Most important, he says, is talking one-on-one withlocal citizens about potentially hazardous encroach-ments. Ongoing, personal communication isessential.

Public hearings regarding development of an ordi-nance provide an opportunity to speak directly withthe public. They allow people to voice their concernsor propose changes to the draft ordinance. Sperrysays that, in Story County’s case, comments at thepublic hearings resulted in important clarificationsin the final ordinance.

Sperry suggests developing a professional,nonconfrontational presentation for the board ofsupervisors and for public hearings that lets the datatell the story about ROW safety and that emphasizeseveryone’s responsibility—“We’re all in thistogether.”

Story County’s ROW ordinanceIn May 2002, Story County passed an ordinanceprohibiting

• excavating, filling, or making any physicalchanges to any part of the ROW,

• cultivating and growing crops on the ROW, and

• placing trash, junk, rocks, corncobs, brush,vehicles, machinery, billboards, signs, hazardousmailbox supports, and advertising devices in theROW and constructing fences, ditches, waterbreaks, and drainage tiles in the ROW.

The ordinance establishes a system of fines for viola-tors. It also establishes a permitting process3 wherebycitizens can apply for exceptions regarding proposedlandscaping or other projects in the ROW. Sperryemphasizes that, if a proposed project doesn’t qualifyfor a permit, county staff will work with applicantsto adjust their plan or develop alternatives.

Story County’s ordinance is nonretroactive, so exist-ing ROW hazards are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Sperry is working with individuals to findmutually beneficial solutions. If a mailbox post inthe ROW is too large, for example, the county mayallow the owner to drill holes to make the post moreforgiving if struck by a vehicle.

“It’s not the mailboxes that are the problem. It’swhat holds them up,” says Sperry.

For more informationTo review Story County’s right-of-way ordinance(Ordinance No. 107), permit request form, and gen-eral information about ROW hazards, go to theengineer’s website, www.storycounty.com/engineer/default1.html.

You can review Chapter 319 of the Code of Iowa atwww.legis.state.ia.us/cgi-bin/IACODE/Code2001.pl.

For specific information about Story County’sroadside safety campaign, contact Bob Sperry,515-382-7355, engineer@storycounty.com. •

ROW . . . continued from page 1

1Iowa Traffic Safety Data Service, Iowa StateUniversity

2Section 319.1 of the Code of Iowa requires countyboards of supervisors to “cause all obstructions inhighways, in their respective jurisdictions, to beremoved.” (Note, the definition of “highway”includes the ROW.)

3Section 319.14 of the Code of Iowa states that apermit must be obtained from the county before anywork begins in a county ROW.

Other right-of-way obstructions (top to bottom): drivewayretaining walls, crops, and footbridges

3 JUL–AUG 2002

LTAP Advisory Board

The people listed below help guideand direct the policies and activitiesof Iowa’s Local Technical Assis-tance Program (LTAP). Contactany of the advisory board membersto comment, make suggestions, orask questions about any aspect ofLTAP.

Saleem BaigLocal SystemsIowa DOTTelephone: 515-239-1051

Gary FoxTraffic andTransportation DirectorCity of Des MoinesTelephone: 515-283-4973

John GoodeMonroe County EngineerTelephone: 641-932-7123

Neil GuessHoward R. Green CompanyTelephone: 515-278-2913

Bret HodneCity of West Des Moines515-222-3475

Susan KlekarIowa Division, FHWATelephone: 515-233-7302

Wally MookDirector of Public WorksCity of BettendorfTelephone: 319-344-4128

Tom ParhamLocal SystemsIowa DOTTelephone: 515-239-1256

Bob SperryStory County EngineerTelephone: 515-515-382-7355

Wade WeissGreene County EngineerTelephone: 515-386-5650

THE LIFESPAN of pavement markings is typicallybetween six months and several years, compared tothe typical lifespan of pavements between 10 and25 years. Because repeated replacement of pave-ment markings can be costly over time, agenciesshould consider durability and life-cycle costswhen selecting pavement marking materials.

Pavement marking typesPavement marking materials can be divided intotwo common types: nondurable and durable.

Nondurable markings include paints. The use ofsolvent-based (alkyd) paint has been restricted byEnvironmental Protection Agency regulations.Water-based (latex) paints are generally less expen-sive than durable markings and are widely used onIowa roads.

Durable markings include epoxy, thermoplastics,poly urea and urethane, and preformed tape.Though these types can be more expensive thanpaints, they have a longer expected service life.

Comparing materialsCost, durability, and retroreflectivity are the pri-mary criteria by which to evaluate pavement mark-ing materials. The cost of any given pavementmarking material varies by manufacturer and type.The service life of a material can also vary widelydepending on pavement surface, traffic volume,weather condition, plowing activity, etc. Somegeneral trends and comments are provided in thetable below.

Other considerations when selecting pavementmarking types: ease of installation, drying time,

Selecting pavement marking materials:Balancing initial cost and durability

and an assessment of how the materials wouldperform for the given pavement type, road use, andclimate.

For more informationGary Thomas, former assistant professor of civilengineering at Iowa State University, conducted athorough synthesis of research regarding durable,cost-effective pavement markings for the IowaHighway Research Board (TR-454). See his reportonline, www.ctre.iastate.edu/reports/pavemark.pdf.

For more information contact Tom McDonald,safety circuit rider, CTRE, 515-294-6384,tmcdonal@iastate.edu; or Kurtis Younkin, Office ofTraffic and Safety, Iowa DOT, 515-239-1184,kurtis.younkin@dot.state.ia.us. •

Water-based paint markings (above) are typically replacedevery six months to two years.

ExpectedMarking Type Average Cost Service Life Comments

Water-based paint $0.10/ft 0.5–2 years Limited use in cold weather.

Epoxy $0.60/ft 2–5 years

Poly urea and urethane $0.85/ft 2–5 years Can be placed at temperatures as low as 32ºF. Thisproduct has only been used in Iowa since 1999, so theupper end on service life is speculative.

Thermoplastics $0.90/ft 5–7 years Not for use on portland cement concrete pavement.

Preformed tape $1.00–4.00/ft 2–7 years Easily removed when desired, such as in constructionzones. Can peel, chip, and crack during snow removaland other activities.

Tape markings can last up to seven years. These texturedtape markings on South Duff Avenue in Ames have per-formed well through three winters.

4 JUL–AUG 2002

Traffic calming: an option in Iowa?

Tom McDonald, Safety Circuit Rider

SOME OF the most common traffic problems andcomplaints in communities involve high trafficspeeds and congested or otherwise problematicintersection operations.

Too often, the only perceived solutions are loweringspeed limits and installing more stop signs. In theshort term, these efforts may have a positive effect.Often, however, initial improvements in safety (e.g.,slower traffic speeds and fewer crashes at intersec-tions) do not last.

In fact, in the long term, lower speed limits andmore stop signs may be counterproductive. Withoutfocused, increased enforcement, unreasonable speedlimits (i.e., lower than the 85th percentile) andunnecessary stop control will be regularly violated.

Signs alone don’t always result in changed driverbehavior. But physical measures can change driverbehavior, which is why traffic calming measures canbe effective.

Traffic calming definedThe Institute of Traffic Engineers defines trafficcalming as “the combination of mainly physicalmeasures to reduce the negative effects of motorvehicle use, alter driver behavior, and improveconditions for non-motorized street users.”

Properly designed physical alterations to a road orstreet can cause or invite motorists to decrease theirdriving speed and pay more attention to their driv-ing. The result can be safer travel for both motoristsand pedestrians.

Section G9.1 of the Iowa Traffic Control Devices andPavement Markings: A Manual forCities and Counties briefly describestraffic calming alternatives, fromdiverters to speed humps, as well asdesign options. Traffic circles androundabouts are also discussed.(Generally, roundabouts are consid-ered traffic control devices, not trafficcalming devices.)

Traffic calming optionsIf residents in a neighborhood areconcerned about excess traffic, adiverter or semi-diverter might be theanswer.

For speeding complaints, severaloptions could be considered, includ-

ing bulb-outs, chokers, chicanes, or even speedhumps.

These features can be designed to offer additionalprotection for pedestrians and aesthetic enhance-ments to the neighborhood. And, most of theseimprovements can be added for low cost.

None of these options is a panacea; no such thinghas yet been discovered in traffic engineering. Butthey do offer attractive and often more effectivealternatives to the standard, familiar approachesof the past. And they work without increasedenforcement!

Intersection traffic controlTraffic control at some urban intersections can beparticularly challenging. When crashes occur andcongestion increases, traffic signals are not guaran-teed to significantly reduce either problem. Signal-ization is costly and requires ongoingmaintenance.

In Iowa and other states, roundabouts are becom-ing useful alternatives to signals at urban intersec-tions. Roundabouts require minimal maintenanceand are operationally sound. Although installing aroundabout will require changing an intersection’sphysical characteristics, it can be less costly thaninstalling sophisticated traffic signals. Perhapsmost important, many studies have shown thatroundabouts are influential in reducing crashes.

Whenever urban intersection improvements areanticipated or new intersections designed,roundabouts should be considered along withtraffic signals.

When considering traffic calming devices orroundabouts

Several precautions are noteworthy:

• Study the options carefully.

• Use only modern designs, especially forroundabouts (some early roundabout designsin this country had problems, but in recentyears designs have been significantlyimproved).

• Keep the public involved from the beginningand throughout the planning and installationprocess (driver education efforts may be usefulas well to help drivers navigate new, unfamiliarstreet features).

CALMING…continued on top of next page

Editor’s note: This article is partof a series about Iowa Traffic

Control Devices and PavementMarkings: A Manual for Citiesand Counties. The manual was

funded by the Iowa HighwayResearch Board (TR-441) andsupplements the MUTCD. It is

available online, www.ctre.iastate.edu/pubs/itcd/index.htm.

Or contact Tom McDonald,515-294-6384,

tmcdonal@iastate.edu.

In certain situations, properlyinstalled traffic circles can improve

safety at intersections by slowingtraffic.

5 JUL–AUG 2002

For more informationTo become familiar with traffic calming techniques,review Section G9.1 of the Iowa Traffic ControlDevices and Pavement Markings Manual for Citiesand Counties. Iowa City, Clive, Des Moines, andBettendorf have constructed traffic circles,roundabouts, and other nontraditional traffic calm-ing/traffic control devices.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers haspublished several detailed publications on trafficcalming. These publications are available throughCTRE’s library, as is the FHWA’s 2000 publica-tion, Roundabouts: An Informational Guide,(P1482). Contact Jim Hogan, librarian, 515-294-8103, hoganj@iastate.edu.

In addition, training workshops can be arrangedthrough the Iowa LTAP center. Contact SafetyCircuit Rider Tom McDonald, 515-294-6384,tmcdonal@iastate.edu. •

CALMING…continued from previous page MUTCD compliancedates: January 2003

Note approaching deadlines for complying with revi-sions to the millennium edition of the MUTCD:

Section 3B.01—Yellow Centerline and Left EdgeLine Pavement Markings and Warrants, compliancedate January 3, 2003

Section 3B.07—Warrants for Use of Edge Lines,compliance date January 3, 2003

These provisions will not be affected by ProposedAmendments for MUTCD, Revision 2 (posted May2002). If you do not have a copy of the most recentMUTCD, you can find the provisions on the FederalHighway Administration’s MUTCD website, http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/. •

Websites that work for you

NCHRP approved traffic control devicesThis Texas DOT web site lists all of the acceptable traffic controldevices for use in work zones that comply with the standards set bythe NCHRP. www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/trf/ctrldvcs/trfteps1.htm

Guides to better work safetyThe FHWA provides a great resource for agency safety coordina-tors. It has links to various work safety guides including the BestPractices Guidebook and Meeting the Customer’s Needs for Mobilityand Safety During Construction and Maintenance Operations.www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/techshar.htm

Planning and development basics for community leadersThis site helps community leaders, especially in rural communities,with planning and development. It teaches users planning anddevelopment basics such as government policies, planning, bench-marking (including an introduction to GIS), development con-cepts, growth concepts, and economic development. The tools onthe site are free. http://www.cdtoolbox.org

Innovations that workSee last year’s winners from North Dakota’s “You Show Us” contest(similar to Iowa’s “Build a Better Mousetrap” contest). Some inven-tions include the “Cutting Edge Installation Jack,” “Culvert Trans-port Trailer,” and “Air Operated Hydraulic Jack.” http://hardhat.cme.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndltap/quarterly_newsletters/fall2001.pdf

Protecting public transportation from terrorismThis site has informative articles about researching anti-terrorismmeasures in public surface transportation. They include ProtectingPublic Transportation Against Terrorism and Serious Crime: AnExecutive Overview and Protecting Public Transportation AgainstTerrorism and Serious Crime: Continuing Research on Best SecurityPractices. www.transweb.sjsu.edu/pubs.htm

The high performance concrete forumThis is the FHWA’s forum for high-performance concrete (HPC).Discussions include HPC projects in other areas, definitions andresearch, mix design and proportioning, structural design and speci-fications, costs, and applicable case studies. http://knowledge.fhwa.dot.gov/cops/hpcx.nsf/home

The most dangerous two-lane highways in the country“Dateline NBC” aired a story regarding the most dangerous undi-vided, two-lane highways in the country. This site contains thearticle, video, and an interactive road fatality map. Although partsof this news story are somewhat exaggerated, it has some goodinsights. http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/748422.asp?cp1=1

One-stop site for transportation curriculaUse this FHWA site to find information on TransportationCurriculum Coordination Council (TCCC) training courses, stateprograms, and contacts. It also links to regional training and certifi-cation programs and the latest TCCC news. www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/tccc/tccc.html

6 JUL–AUG 2002

WORKING OUTDOORS during the hot, muggy,dog days of summer can be hazardous toyour health. If your body gets overheatedand isn’t cooled adequately through theevaporation of perspiration, you can getvery—even dangerously—sick.

Heat rash is simply uncomfortable andannoying. Heat exhaustion is more seriousand should be treated promptly to avoid themost dangerous heat-related illness, heat-stroke. Symptoms and treatment for theseconditions are listed on the following page.

Who’s at risk?Everyone who works (or plays!) in the heatand humidity can suffer from heat-relatedtrauma. If you have any of the followingconditions, however, you’re particularlysusceptible:

• Obesity. Or just some extra pounds.(Your body’s already stressed.)

• Heart disease or poor circulation.(Ditto.)

• Several days’ exposure to high temperaturesand inadequate fluid intake.

• Sunburn.

• Illness and/or fever.

• Prescription drugs. (Check with your phar-macist to determine if your medicationscould affect your body’s response to heat.)

SupervisorsOn blistering days help your workers stayhealthy. Provide a heat-safe work environmentand schedule, as outlined below.

For more informationLearn more about heat-related illnesses throughthe National Center for Environmental Health’swebsite, which provided much of the informa-tion for this article. NCEH is a program of theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), an agency of the Department of Healthand Human Services. www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extremeheat/. •

It’s HOT out there!

TAKING A FEW SIMPLE precautions in hotweather will protect most people from heat-related illness:

Drink, drink, drink—water, fruit juice, orsport drinks—up to a quart an hour. (Don’twait until you’re thirsty to drink. No alcoholor caffeine, light on the sugar. Avoid very colddrinks when you’re hot; they can cause stom-ach cramps.)

Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fittingclothing with long sleeves and pantlegs, awide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Slow down.

Avoid extremely strenuous activity inthe heat.

Rest frequently in cool, shaded areas.

Use fans, ventilation, and air conditioningwhenever possible. (A few hours in air condi-tioning can help your body stay cooler whenyou return to the hot outdoors. Don’t work inhot, unventilated environments.)

Limit outdoor work to morning andevening hours.

Be a buddyDifferent people tolerate heat to varyingdegrees. Keep an eye on your co-workers.If they display symptoms of heat exhaustionor heatstroke, listed in the table, takeimmediate action. •

Protect and prevent

Sizzling facts

Over-exposure to heatkills more Americanseach year than do hur-ricanes, lightening,tornadoes, floods, andearthquakes com-bined. An average of 300people annually.

Heatstroke (also calledsunstroke) can causedeath or permanentdisability. Seek medicalattention immediately.

Heatstroke can occurvery quickly, within10 to 15 minutes. If thebody can’t adequately coolitself for too long, body tem-perature can suddenly zoomto the danger point, 103degrees Fahrenheit orhigher.

Unlike heat exhaustion,characterized by profuse per-spiring and clammy, cool,pale skin, the more danger-ous heatstroke is char-acterized by lack ofperspiration and dry,warm, red skin.

High humidity andlittle air movementincrease the risk ofheat exhaustion orheatstroke. Evaporationof sweat is our bodies’ pri-mary cooling mechanism.On still, humid days, sweatevaporates slowly. •

7 JUL–AUG 2002

8 JUL–AUG 2002

Road workers and skin cancer

Check your skin regularly and, if you have a suspicious area, seea dermatologist immediately.

Carcinoma. Pay attention to any of these irregularities:

• small bumps, often on the nose or ear, or flaky, scabbypatches on the skin, which then become bumps, usuallywith an abscess

• red to flesh color

• firm and rubbery texture

• waxy or translucent appearance

Melanoma. Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change inthe size, shape, color, or feel of an existing mole.

In addition, the American Academy of Dermatology hasdeveloped a simple, ABCD method for determining if a spoton the skin might be a melanoma. A skin irregularity may bea melanoma if

• Asymmetrical shape (one half looks different from theother)

• Border is jagged, notched, or scalloped

• Color ranges from pink to red to dark brown, oftentogether

• Diameter is larger than six millimeters (about the widthof a pencil eraser)

Skin cancer signals

IN HOT WEATHER or cold, sun or shade, anyonewhose job requires working outdoors risks develop-ing skin cancer due to overexposure to ultraviolet(UV) rays. Road workers are among the highestat-risk groups. Some workers may retire only todevelop skin cancer years later due to the long-lasting, cumulative effects of UV exposure.

The challengeSkin cancer is the most common type of cancer inthe country and its occurrence is increasing, accord-ing to the National Cancer Institute. Repeated, pro-longed exposure to ultraviolet-A (UVA) andultraviolet-B (UVB) rays, can cause melanoma andcarcinoma, the two primary types of cancer affectingthe skin.

Skin cancer often affects people who are fair-skinned, burn easily, or have had one or more se-vere, blistering sunburns. But it’s a mistake to thinkyou’re safe just because your olive skin tans easily.People of all hues can develop skin cancer.

Carcinoma, the most common skin cancer, beginsin particular cells in the outer layer of the skin. Car-cinoma rarely metastasizes (spreads to other organs).

Although a less common form of skin cancer thancarcinoma, melanoma is one of the most commoncancers in young adults—and it is life threatening.It begins when skin cells that produce melanin, thepigment that gives skin its natural color, becomemalignant, and it tends to spread to other organs ifnot treated early.

CANCER…continued on next page

Protect yourselfWhenever you’re working (or playing) outdoors,protect yourself. Wear a hat that shields not onlyyour head from the sun but your ears and neck aswell, plus long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and long pants.In addition, always use sunscreen.

Road workers should choose a sunscreen with a sunprotection factor (SPF) of 25 or 30 and “broad-spectrum” protection to screen out both UVB andUVA rays. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapplyevery two hours—more often if you’re sweating.

“Sunblock” is the same as “sunscreen.” No skinproduct can actually block the sun’s rays from con-tacting exposed skin.

Whenever possible, avoid working outdoors duringmid-day when the sun’s rays are most direct.

TreatmentCarcinoma can generally be treated by removingaffected skin tissue. The procedure may leave someslight scarring.

If left untreated, carcinomas can become enlargedand destroy surrounding tissue. In rare cases, thecancer can spread to other parts of the body includ-ing bones, liver, and brain.

Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed andtreated when the tumor is thin and has not deeplyinvaded the skin. Treatment includes surgical

Road workers areamong the highest

at-risk groups.

9 JUL–AUG 2002

simplifies hauling, unloading pipe

UNLOADING long, heavy culvert pipes from a roofrack can be difficult for one person. PatZimmerman, culvert and drainage foremaninJohnson County Secondary Roads, has designedand built a solution—an E.Z. rack.

The E.Z. rack is an adaptation of a standard roofrack. On the E.Z. rack, the outside tines will drop90 degrees and lay parallel to the ground when it’stime to unload. Just give a pipe a push, and it dropsto the ground.

To build the E.Z. rack, Zimmerman used 1 1/2-inch square tubing. He replaced the roof rack’soriginal outside tines with longer ones (they need tobe long enough to keep the pipe being unloadedfrom dropping on the mirror) and added a pivotpoint and a stop. He made the right side of the racklarge enough to handle culvert pipe up to 24 inchesby 30 feet.

Both outside tines need to drop at the same time.They are controlled by a lever at the rear of thetruck. The lever releases two spring-loaded pins,which hold the tines in their regular uprightposition.

CANCER…continued from previous page

removal of the affected skin, perhaps in conjunctionwith chemotherapy, biological therapy, or radiationtherapy.

However, when a melanoma becomes thick anddeep, the disease often spreads to other parts of thebody and is difficult to control.

For more informationSome of the information in this article was found onthe National Cancer Institute’s excellent website,www.nci.nih.gov/CancerInformation/.

To contact a dermatologist in your area, contact theAmerican Academy of Dermatology (AAD), 888-462-DERM (3376), or visit the AAD website,www.aad.org.

Thanks to the International Slurry Surfacing Asso-ciation Report for allowing us to adapt informationfrom the May/June 1998 article, “Working Under theSun: A Catch-22 for Road Workers.” •

E.Z. rack

The E.Z. rack also elimi-nates the need for hitch-ing up a trailer totransport culvert pipe.That saves hook-up timeand fuel.

For more informationabout the E.Z. rack,contact Pat Zimmerman,319-256-6046. •

The E.Z. rack tines havebeen lowered (top photo),

and the rack is ready forits load. Once a pipe has

been loaded(bottom

photo), thetines are

returned totheir regular

uprightposition.

11 JUL–AUG 2002

CTRE-Iowa DOT library partnershipexpands knowledge base

A NEW PARTNERSHIP makesit easier for Iowa’s busytransportation profes-sionals to

• stay abreast of newtechnology,

• track new develop-ments in any specialtyarea, and

• access a worldwide net-work of transportationresources.

CTRE’s LTAP library (the Stan Ring MemorialLibrary) is teaming up with Iowa DOT’s library toprovide transportation agencies and other organiza-tions with the information they need.

Hank Zaletel and Jim Hogan from the Iowa DOTand LTAP, respectively, collaborate closely to findthe resources you need. They can also refer you toexperts in specialty areas.

Plugging in to these resourcesFor assistance, contact either Hank or Jim: HankZaletel, 515-239-1200, hank.zaletel@dot.state.ia.us. Jim Hogan, 515-294-8103, hoganj@iastate.edu.

The LTAP library catalog is online, www.ctre.iastate.edu/library/search.cfm. Use it to search, sort,and order materials electronically. Jim can send youa printed catalog on request. •

Hank Zaletel (left) andJim Hogan

Two complementary services

Iowa DOT’s library’s extensive body of transportation research, data andgraphics, and history includes books, technical reports, videotapes, maps,aerial photographs, and historic documents.

The library is connected to a network of state DOT resources across thecountry, has access to the comprehensive Transportation Research Infor-mation Service (TRIS) and, through membership in the Online ComputerLibrary Center, can borrow materials from thousands of libraries world-wide. Hank Zaletel and his staff regularly provide comprehensive referenceand database services to transportation agencies and research entities, likeCTRE.

The LTAP library emphasizes training materials, with 640 videotapes,24 training packages, 49 compact disks, 6 interactive compact disks, and17 slide presentations. The library also has 1,370 research and technicalpublications. Librarian Jim Hogan regularly helps Iowa’s transportationagencies access materials on a variety of specific topics. •

V690 Smoothing and Reshaping the TraveledWay. This video covers detailed step-by-step pro-cesses used for both smoothing and reshaping aroad. It includes crowned, insloped, and outslopedroads and transition sections.

V691 Maintaining the Ditch and Surface CrossDrains. This video provides comprehensive instruc-tions for correctly constructing and maintainingditches, culverts, and various surface cross drains.

V692 Pennsylvania Bridges: Maintaining the Past,Preserving the Future. This video highlights the

Pennsylvania DOT’s maintenance practices andprovides an overview of the importance of bridgepreservation.

V693 Cultural Resource Protection. This videobriefly discusses archeological surveys done duringthe Iowa DOT’s project development process. Italso provides instruction on what should be done ifa burial or potential burial site is disturbed duringconstruction, maintenance, or other activities in-volving soil excavation. •

LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS . . . continued from previous page