LOOK AT WHAT THEY CAN DO

Mike Dooley, St. Louis County (Missouri) Public Works, saw the glitz and glamour of snow removal in Europe on a recent trip that included stops in Switzerland, Norway, and France. The main attraction was a training facility in southern France where all levels of employees are brought in for snow and ice removal education. Workers are taught about application rates, weather forecasting as it related to roadway surfaces, how to download satellite weather information, and how to use data from Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS). Sweden has made a recent move to privatize its highway maintenance operation. The work units in their highway departments maintain the roads under an agreed upon price, with the exception of the cost for snow removal, which is negotiated with the government in the spring. Larry Frevert, deputy director of public works in Kansas City, Missouri, took a tour covering Japan, Germany, and Austria. Just like in Europe, hands-on experience is a valuable learning tool in Japan. New drivers are taught how to manipulate snow-covered roadways and how to start and stop on steep grades that are blanketed with ice. In Germany and Austria, moisture and freezing temperatures activate automatic bridge spreading systems. The spreaders are capable of applying liquid, dry, or a combination of chemicals. RWIS is used for this, as well as for motorist information systems to display pavement temperature on motorist information signs.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/11660022
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Page Range: pp 50-51, 53, 55, 57-58
• Corporate Authors:

  Scranton Gillette Communications

  380 E Northwest Highway, Suite 200
  Des Planes, IL  United States  60016-2282
• Authors:
  • Wilson, B
• Publication Date: 1999-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: 6 p.
• Serial:
  • Roads & Bridges
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Scranton Gillette Communications
  • ISSN: 8750-9229
  • Serial URL: http://www.roadsbridges.com/rb/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Anti-icing; Deicing; Driver education; Highway bridges; Highway maintenance; Privatization; Road weather information systems; Snow and ice control; Snow removal; Study tours; Training; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Austria; Europe; France; Germany; Japan; Norway; Sweden; Switzerland
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; I62: Winter Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00781853
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 1 2000 12:00AM