The problems with road plates today

  • COLD MIX

    Cold mix doesn’t actually secure road plates—it just hides the problem, breaking apart under traffic, shifting over time, and requiring constant reapplication without ever anchoring the plate in place.

  • BIKE LANE HAZARD

    An unramped plate creates a sharp edge that can catch a bicycle tire, causing cyclists to lose control and crash.

  • CAR ACCIDENTS


    Unsecured road plates can shift under traffic, creating dangerous gaps that can cause vehicles to drop into the trench below.

  • FLUSH MOUNT

    Flush mounting metal road plates—where the plate is set level with the road surface—requires saw-cutting the pavement, excavating material, and often backfilling or pouring concrete around the edges. This process is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive, often costing thousands of dollars per plate.

  • TIRE SHREDDERS

    Due to the flexing of metal plates under traffic, railroad spikes can work their way loose and get pushed upward—turning them into dangerous tire shredders.

  • PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

    Ramps on road plates used on sidewalks are important because they provide a smooth, accessible transition for pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers, cyclists, and preventing trips.

  • POLLUTION


    Cold mix asphalt is a petroleum-based, non-reusable material that degrades quickly, contributing to material waste and hydrocarbon runoff in storm drains.

  • UNSECURED PLATE

    Unsecured plating is dangerous because it can shift or slide under traffic, creating trip hazards, vehicle damage, noise complaints, and exposing open trenches to the public.

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    Featured Buyers

    Road Plate with Cold Patch


    This road plate shows the common problem with cold mix asphalt – messy application, uneven edges, and loose debris that can create trip hazards for pedestrians, damage to vehicle tires, and increased maintenance costs. Cold mix often crumbles, washes away during rain, and requires constant reapplication, making it both unsafe and expensive over time.

    Road Plate with Plate Locks

    A steel road plate secured with Plate Locks, creating a smooth, stable transition for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The reusable ramp system eliminates the mess and hazards of cold mix asphalt, ensuring a clean and professional jobsite while saving time and money on maintenance.

    Testimonials

    Hear from Customers Who Trust Our Products

    • "VDOT requires the plates to be out lined with some sort of markings around the edge and I think this does that and we have to put up signs for  the steel plates  when in use. We are well pleased with the Plate Locks system."

      Johnny Beane Town Of Blacksburg Virginia

    • "It is certainly our intention to use the Plate Lock system again in the future and would highly recommend it."

      Michael R. Agnew IHC, LTD.

    • Used the plate locks for the first time a few weeks ago, they work great thanks

      Mike D'Ambra

    • K3 Ground Works

      -Madras, OR

      Mike D'Ambra

    • Facilities Superintendent (P & E)

      New York City Transit Authority

      Eric Coleman

    • NCDOT Jobsite in Salisbury, NC.

      Mike Erwin

    • Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)

      Bridge Joint Replacement

    •  "We modified our standards to require the use of Plate Locks to restrain steel plates on Jackson County roads.  After a decade of use, our opinion of the product remains unchanged."

      Mike Kuntz, P.E. County Engineer Jackson County Roads

    •  "We modified our standards to require the use of Plate Locks to restrain steel plates on Jackson County roads.  After a decade of use, our opinion of the product remains unchanged."

      Mike Kuntz, P.E. County Engineer Jackson County Roads

    • Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA)

      Bridge Joint Replacement

    • NCDOT Jobsite in Salisbury, NC.

      Mike Erwin

    • Facilities Superintendent (P & E)

      New York City Transit Authority

      Eric Coleman

    • K3 Ground Works

      -Madras, OR

      Mike D'Ambra

    • Used the plate locks for the first time a few weeks ago, they work great thanks

      Mike D'Ambra

    • "It is certainly our intention to use the Plate Lock system again in the future and would highly recommend it."

      Michael R. Agnew IHC, LTD.

    • "VDOT requires the plates to be out lined with some sort of markings around the edge and I think this does that and we have to put up signs for  the steel plates  when in use. We are well pleased with the Plate Locks system."

      Johnny Beane Town Of Blacksburg Virginia