Sheldon Spears of the Skidabrader Group accepts the Innovation Award at ATSSA's 2026 Convention & Traffic Expo on Feb. 23. 

Three products earn honorable mentions from transportation panel

HOUSTON – Work Zone Blank Canvas, a mechanical process that removes ghost striping, residual markings and pavement scarring that may confuse drivers and reduce safety in work zones, received the Innovation Award at ATSSA’s 56^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo  today with three additional products that improve roadway safety recognized for honorable mention.

Work Zone Blank Canvas is produced by Skidabrader Group of Fort Worth, Texas.

Today’s Innovation Award winner was chosen from among 14 entered in ATSSA’s 2026 New Products Rollout (NPRO). The products were presented by companies from the U.S. and Austria and evaluated by a panel made up of department of transportation (DOT) representatives from across the country. Videos of each product will be posted here.after Convention.

Products considered for the Innovation Award were judged on the criteria of lifesaving qualities, degree of need, design, and innovation. All products were also evaluated on their contribution to the industry’s mission of advancing roadway safety and working Toward Zero Deaths.

The following products were chosen for honorable mention:

• Advanced Warning System by Horizon Signal of Reading, Penn., is a portable, trailer-mounted alert system that warns motorists when they are approaching slowed or stopped traffic, giving them extra time to slow down safely.
• REBLOC 80SAH by REBLOC of Wilmington, Del., is a MASH-tested TL3 and TL4 longitudinal portable concrete traffic barrier system with a narrow 11 ¾-inch footprint suitable for high-risk, confined environments such as tunnels and bridges.
• Valtir TMA + Omnisight FusionSensor Work Zone Safety Solution, a product of Valtir of Addison, Texas, and Omnisight of Charleston, S.C., pairs Valtir’s truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) with Omnisight’s FusionSensor technology, shifting the TMA from a reactive protection device to a proactive threat detection aid.

ATSSA Director of Innovation & Technical Services Eric Perry announced the winner and honorable mentions during a special session held on the Traffic Expo floor this afternoon. This followed a New Products Tour in which Convention participants had the opportunity to see each product and learn how it contributes to the industry.

“This year’s entries addressed a broad range of issues including new ways to advance safety for roadway workers, strategies to increase efficiency and ways to harness the power of artificial intelligence to tackle issues on our roads,” Perry said. “The judges are always challenged to select one winner, which is why we also highlight products deserving of honorable mention.”

ATSSA’s Innovation Awards are given each year as part of the Association’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. This year’s event began on Friday and runs through Tuesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

“The New Products Rollout is the industry’s definitive platform for showcasing the most advanced innovations in roadway safety,” Perry said. “Each product has the potential for immediate, lifesaving application on the nation’s roads, which is exactly what makes this contest such a powerful force in advancing roadway safety. The industry’s creativity and ingenuity are always on full display, and its unwavering commitment to saving lives continues to drive innovative solutions built on the latest technology."

For more information about next year’s event, email innovation@atssa.com.

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ATSSA’s core purpose is to advance roadway safety. It represents the roadway safety industry with legislative advocacy and a far-reaching member partnership. It leads the nation in work zone safety training and education for roadway workers. And its members advance roadway safety through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. To learn more, visit ATSSA.com.