ICE FORMATION ALONG THE ALASKA HIGHWAY

CLIMATIC, DRAINAGE AND TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS IN SUBARCTIC REGIONS AS ALONG THE ALASKA HIGHWAY CAUSE ICE FORMATIONS THAT WILL INVADE THE ROADWAY SURFACE IN WINTER UNLESS PREVENTED. THESE FORMATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF WATER FROM SEEPAGE, SPRINGS, SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS AND RIVERS EMERGING TO THE EXPOSED SURFACE WHERE IT SPREADS IN THIN FILM LAYERS AND FREEZES. SURFACE DISTURBANCES RESULTING FROM HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION INTENSIFY THIS ACTION. IT IS IMPRACTICABLE TO PREVENT ICING ENTIRELY, AND IT IS A DIFFICULT BUT PERFORMABLE TASK TO KEEP THE ICE FORMATIONS FROM INVADING THE ROADWAY WHERE THEY ARE A HAZARD TO AND MAY STOP TRAFFIC. DURING THE WINTER OF 1943-44 PRACTICES IN ICE CONTROL WERE DEVELOPED AND USED TO KEEP THE ROAD SURFACE OPEN TO TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT THE WINTER. METHODS USED AND THE VARIOUS FACTORS AFFECTING ICE FORMATION ARE DISCUSSED. THE INFLUENCE OF THESE FACTORS ON LOCATION, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION METHODS, AND SUBSEQUENT MAINTENANCE ARE POINTED OUT. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrbproceedings/24/24-038.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 24, pp 398-404, 2 FIG, 1 TAB. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Eager, W L
  • Pryor, W T
• Publication Date: 1945

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board (Unassembled)
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Proceedings
  • Volume: 24
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Cold weather; Deicing; Drainage; Icing; Operations; Topography
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218763
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 13 1971 12:00AM