SNOW AND ICE CONTROL ON ROADS IN NEW MEXICO

COSTS, EQUIPMENT, PROCEDURES AND MANPOWER USED IN SNOW AND ICE CONTROL ON ROADS IN NEW MEXICO ARE DESCRIBED. SINCE NEW MEXICO IS A LAND OF GEOGRAPHICAL CONTRAST, THE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS MUST BE CAREFULLY STUDIED. WIND VELOCITIES AND DIRECTION ARE DETERMINED AND TEMPERATURES CAREFULLY COMPILED. IN OCTOBER EACH YEAR, EACH DISTRICT HOLDS A MEETING OF PERSONNEL INVOLVED TO RE-EVALUATE PROCEDURES AND TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES. SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT IS CHECKED TO SEE THAT IT IS IN GOOD REPAIR AND READY TO MOVE. STOCK PILES OF SAND OR CINDERS AND SALT ARE PLACED AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1 EACH YEAR. A MIXTURE CONSISTING OF ABOUT 35% SALT AND 65% SAND OR CINDERS IS USED TO PROMOTE THAWING AND PROVIDE INSTANT TRACTION. FRONT-END LOADERS ARE USED TO LOAD A DUMP TRUCK AND TAIL GATE SPREADERS, CHAIN-PROPELLED OFF THE REAR AXLE AND WHEEL, ARE USED. MOTORIZED SPREADERS ARE ALSO USED AND BOTH PROCEDURES ARE A ONE MAN OPERATION. A DETAILED METHOD OF OPERATION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH SPECIFIC ASSIGNMENTS TO MEN AND EQUIPMENT. YEAR AFTER YEAR MEN ARE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME SECTIONS OF HIGHWAYS SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS, PERILS, AND PECULIARITIES WHICH CONSTANTLY OCCUR AT THESE LOCATIONS. SOME SECTIONS OF HIGHWAY JUSTIFY THE USE OF BOTH HEAVY-DUTY AND LIGHT SNOW PLOWS RIGGED WITH WINGS THAT HELP FLATTEN THE SNOW AFTER PLOWS HAVE BROKEN THROUGH THE DRIFTS.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 9 Pp, 2 PhoT
• Corporate Authors:

  New Mexico State Highway Department

  P.O. Box 1149
  Santa Fe, NM  United States  87501
• Authors:
  • Johnson, C W
  • De Long, A G
  • Crow, J M
• Publication Date: 1970-1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Maintenance equipment; Maintenance management; Maintenance personnel; Maintenance practices; Salts; Sand; Slag; Snow removal; Snowplows; Spreaders
• Uncontrolled Terms: Maintenance costs
• Old TRIS Terms: Front end loaders
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218560
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 4 1970 12:00AM