 Shopping for new ideas? For maintenance? Engineering? Communication? Equipment? Administration? Training? Safety? If you are, then welcome to the Idea Store. A store whose stock and trade is imagination. If there is one required key to successful roadway maintenance, it is proper drainage. And proper drainage begins with proper roadway profile, the Road Crown. Ken Griffin, Associate Director of Local Roads Program at Cornell University, has modified a standard 4-foot aluminum level to include a retractable 1-inch foot. You can check the Road Crown during paving for planned asphalt overlays and un-nually placed overlays. With the 1-inch foot down and the level reading zero-degree slope, the Road Crown is 1-48, or 1-quarter inch per foot, approximately 2%. The level can be placed on the slope arm of the paver, on the screen of the paver, and directly on the roadway after or before overlay. The 1-inch foot consists of a 1-1-8-inch piece of aluminum angle iron to which a 1-inch circle of aluminum has been welded. The cube was ground for shape and drilled for attachment with a 532nd by 3-quarter inch bolt and wing nut. Detailed plans can be obtained by contacting Cornell University. While we are on the subject of levels, Bob Faulkner of Frederick Town, Missouri, has developed a special hand level. It easily fits into the trunk of a car, is very lightweight, easy to set up, easy to use, and best of all, it's a no-hands item. The pointed end of the rod allows it to be firmly planted and the operator can move around and discuss the activity with other crew members. Bob also built this collapsible measuring rod. Detailed plans for construction are available. Many technical transfer centers communicate through newsletters. Informative, timely, and professionally done, newsletters like these keep the T-square customers informed, not only about new ideas, but about meetings, new personnel appointments, legislative actions, and available publications. Safety is always an overriding concern. Plough blades get a workout in the winter, but where do you put them come spring? Toby Ginder, Middleton, Wisconsin Department of Public Works sent us some information on plough blade mounting. 12-inch to 15-inch sections of I-beam laid on edge and pinned to the floor. A small notch is cut to cradle the blade. The rear pin acts as a push stop for engagement. The shorter front pin as a pull stop for disengagement. Contact Toby at Assistant Director of Public Works, 7426 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin, 53562. On local highways, almost 40% of traffic accidents occur at night. While many reasons contribute to that figure, motorist inability to identify and read signs is one. Perry Morgan, traffic engineer in Huntington, West Virginia, is addressing the problem. Upgrading 1,400 stop signs so that they are 300% brighter. Replacing street signs with larger, more legible ones. While Huntington's efforts are larger in scope than for many municipalities, the message is the same. Huntington affects serialized tape to the signs as a preparation for computerizing the signed locations by type. Durham, New Hampshire uses zip coding. Either way, it's a way to identify who owns the sign. Mike Lawson, city engineer in Beckley, West Virginia, wanted to improve the appearance of the community and at little cost. His staff constructed park benches, tables and a gazebo at 25% of manufacturers cost. They also installed decorative brickwork and drains around the ornamental trees. Mike has all the plans, so write to him. Mike Lawson, city engineer, Beckley, West Virginia. Obviously, an idea store needs ideas. Here's how to get your idea on the program. Tell us who you are. Better yet, send us a picture. Give us a good description of what your idea is. Show us the where at the locale of the idea is important. Why was the idea done? For reasons of safety, cost benefits, etc. How do you do it? Show us step by step. Provide plans, pictures, whatever you think we might need to understand what it is you want us to understand. Send your idea to your technology transfer center for evaluation. Thanks for shopping at the idea store. Until next time, remember an idea never shared is an idea never appreciated.