This page covers one of the 2026 innovation winners.
Spray Bar for Crack Sealing
Submitted by: Kristen Cullison, Quinton Turley & Owen Loveless (Vincennes District)
This INDOT innovation attaches a spray bar to the bumper of a truck, allowing crews to cool hot liquid rubber immediately after crack‑sealing application. Since the material is extremely hot when applied, it must be cooled quickly, otherwise truck tires can pull it back up.
In the past, crews relied on backpack sprayers to cool the rubber, requiring employees to walk directly on the roadway during application. The spray bar makes the process safer and more efficient by reducing the number of workers exposed to traffic and ensuring the material sets properly.
