TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN AVALANCHE ZONES ON THE TRANS-CANADA HIGHWAY

The Rogers Pass in the Selkirk mountain range of the Trans-Canada Highway is subjected to severe avalanche activity. The Snow Research and Avalanche Warning Section of the Canadian Parks Service operates one of the largest mobile control programs to ensure avalanche safety and minimize highway closure. Road closures average 130 hours annually with most closures not exceeding a three-hour period. A fourfold increase in winter traffic volumes, however, was the impetus for a recent study directed toward the development of a traffic management plan. Analysis was divided into winter and summer studies. The two problems--the winter problem of adequate vehicular storage for avalanche control, and the summer problem of maintaining an acceptable level of service by ensuring adequate passing opportunities--were linked to passing lanes. From the study, a staged traffic management system was developed that is dependent on time and location to execute avalanche control and the traffic volume and traffic composition. The system has proven to be a cost effective way to minimize delay. Traffic flow has become the most important factor in the avalanche stabilization program. A system of passing lanes is proposed for the Trans-Canada Highway in Glacier National Park.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/614107147
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • MORRALL, J
  • SKJONSBERG, D
• Publication Date: 1994-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 37
• Serial:
  • ITE Journal
  • Volume: 64
  • Issue Number: 10
  • Publisher: Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
  • ISSN: 0162-8178
  • Serial URL: https://www.ite.org/publications/ite-journal/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Avalanches; Highway operations; Highway traffic control; Passing lanes; Research; Safety; Seasons; Street closure; Traffic; Traffic control; Traffic platooning; Traffic volume; Travel patterns; Vehicle mix
• Identifier Terms: Trans Canada Highway
• Old TRIS Terms: Seasonal traffic pattern
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00680673
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1995 12:00AM