News Releases

Date: Aug. 17, 2006

Contacts:

Contact:	Company:	Phone:	Email:
Bill Brady	Cargill	952-742-6608	bill_brady@cargill.com
Jackie Renner	RCC	612-859-2626	rennercomm@aol.com

 

Four SafeLane™ Projects Secure Federal Funding

Cargill’s surface overlay attracts attention of “Innovative Bridge” program

MINNEAPOLIS – Four state transportation departments are getting grants from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to facilitate installation of Cargill’s SafeLane™ Surface Overlay on problem bridges. Idaho, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas are each receiving grants through the FHWA’s Innovative Bridge Research and Construction (IBRC) program, which helps governments incorporate innovative materials and technologies into their bridge projects.

SafeLane ™ Surface Overlay is a patented combination of epoxy and aggregate rock. When liquid anti-icing chemicals are applied to the overlay before ice or snowstorms hit, the material acts like a rigid sponge, storing the chemicals inside and automatically releasing them as conditions develop for the formation of ice or snow.

“SafeLane is exactly the kind of innovation the IBRC wants to encourage and spread the adoption of,” said Vasant Mistry, senior bridge engineer at FHWA. “Taxpayers can feel good about federal funding supporting such inventive technology.”

The specific projects to receive funding are:

State	Location	Award Amount
Idaho	New bridge on State Highway 200 over Mosquito Creek, near Montana border	$151,000
North Carolina	US Highway 19 over State Road 1781, near Ashville	$150,000
Pennsylvania	U.S. Route 15 over Johnson Creek, six miles south of Mansfield	$150,000
Texas*	McLean Bridge on Interstate 40, 70 miles east of Amarillo	$117,500

* This project was completed in Nov. 2005 and is receiving funding retroactively. The other projects are projected for the next 12 –18 months.

“We are delighted that the federal government has recognized our product as an innovation in bridge maintenance and crash prevention,” said Bob Persichetti, general manager for SafeLane Surface Overlay at Cargill. “Billions of tax dollars are spent each year to preserve and maintain roads and bridges. SafeLane ™ can extend the life of roads and bridges by acting as a sealant that reduces the effects of chloride and water intrusion. More importantly, it can reduce accidents and save lives.”

Cargill is working with state and local departments of transportation to identify funding assistance for additional sites for SafeLane installations.

Severe weather contributes to an average of 1.4 million car accidents in this country each year, 7,000 deaths and more than 600,000 injuries, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the analysis of SafeLane’s 2005-06 performance, “SafeLane overlay provides benefits in both safety and mobility under winter storm conditions, and those benefits may be attained with less chemical than would be needed for highway segments without the overlay.” A copy of the report, which was commissioned by Cargill and conducted by University of Iowa engineering professor Wilfred Nixon, is available at http://www.cargillsafelane.com/.

An analysis of SafeLane’s performance during the 2005-2006 winter season found no weather-related accidents at nine installation sites studied, even though most of the sites had a history of dangerous winter crashes. The results attracted attention in transportation circles, prompting several states to pursue SafeLane Surface Overlay and to apply for federal funding through the “Innovative Bridge” program.

Safelane’s patented technology is licensed to Cargill by Michigan Tech University, where it was invented by Russ Alger, director of MTU’s Institute for Snow Research.

 

About Cargill

Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 149,000 employees in 63 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit www.cargill.com.