A Survey on the Current Practices in Clearing Various Interchange and Intersection Configurations

Interchanges and intersections are the most complex part in a roadway network and are very challenging for snow plowing operators. Currently, no detailed practice manuals are available for clearing interchanges and intersections. To address the needs for practical winter maintenance operations, ClearRoads initiated a research project to develop a training video based on the best practices for snow removal and ice control on interchange and intersection layouts. As part of the project, a survey study was conducted to gather information on the current practices of agencies in the U.S. on clearing ten types of interchange and intersection layouts. This paper presents the survey results and findings. The findings indicate that single and tandem-axle trucks with front plows are the commonly used by agencies. Tow plows were reported to be successful in clearing diverging diamond interchanges and directional T interchanges, but have limitations in clearing roundabouts. Diagram depicting example plowing patterns were provided for comments from survey respondents. The majority of the respondents accepted the examples, therefore, they will be considered as the best practices to be included in the training video. Although the best practice example for each interchange/intersection is different, some general rules were summarized from the survey findings: e.g. avoid plowing snow into highly elevated side to mitigate melting and freezing of snow across the road and square the plow at intersections and overpasses to avoid dragging snow onto already cleared lanes.

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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHD65 Standing Committee on Winter Maintenance.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Cui, Na
  • Qi, Yan
  • Bergner, Dave
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
• Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Interchanges and intersections; Snow removal; Snowplows; Winter maintenance
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01627582
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-05374
• Files: PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 27 2017 5:12PM