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Snow and Ice Control at Extreme Temperatures

Using salt to clear snow and ice from roadways is effective at temperatures of about 10 F or higher. At lower temperatures, higher volumes of salt are required, and its use becomes less cost-effective. When the temperature gets extremely low, state agencies tend to plow the roads, rely on abrasives, and/or use high volumes of salt. In more urban areas with high traffic volumes, abrasives are less effective and other strategies can result in overuse of salt, equipment, and manpower. The Clear Roads winter maintenance pooled fund is interested in identifying additional strategies for maintaining roads in extreme temperatures, including preventing blowing and drifting. As a member state in the Clear Roads pooled fund, Wisconsin DOT asked for a review of existing research and other states’ practices in this area as a precursor to a full-scale research project. As expected, most state and provincial DOTs are using traditional methods to prevent and remove snow and ice at very low temperatures. In addition to a review of current research, six winter maintenance professionals at state and provincial DOTs with cold climates were represented, including Maine, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba. The most innovative strategy in use among these agencies is the hot-water sand spreader being tested by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Originally developed in Europe, the spreader delivers sand that is prewetted with hot water (about 200 F). This technology is designed to keep sand on the road for much longer than conventional sand spreading techniques. Norway has also tested the use of hot water as a prewetting agent for salt, and one article about this research noted that testing was planned to assess how this technique affects the temperature limits of salt application. Other strategies identified that may be less common include constructing snow ridges rather than snow fences to control blowing and drifting; and for areas where snow storage is required, use of an in-traffic loading technique that minimizes lane closures.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Web
  • Edition: Transportation Synthesis Report
  • Features: Bibliography;
  • Pagination: 8p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01351911
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Sep 14 2011 11:13AM