Snow and Ice Control Materials for Texas Roads: VOLUME 1, Literature and Best Practices Review

This report provides findings from a four-year research study of snow and ice control materials for winter weather roadway maintenance applications in Texas. The report is presented in two volumes. Volume 1 is a literature review and best practices review of snow and ice control materials both nationally and statewide, addressing material application and effectiveness, the availability and usability of Texas brines, durability impacts (corrosion) on infrastructure, environmental impacts and regulations, and a detailed cost analysis of Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT’s) current usage of snow and ice control materials. Volume 2 presents findings from side-by-side comparison of selected snow and ice control chemicals through field trials and laboratory testing. Key findings are (1) the effectiveness of TxDOT’s maintenance response to winter weather is a direct function of TxDOT having a clearly-articulated strategy for responding to winter weather, both for typical climate and extreme winter storm events for all regions of the state; (2) geologic brines for snow and ice control include natural brine, manufactured brine, and produced brine related to oilfield operations, and all three must be tested and approved to be considered for widespread use; (3) TxDOT’s current snow and ice control chemicals include granular road salt, salt brine, MeltDown 20®, and MeltDown Apex™, all of which are chlorides, and, notwithstanding TxDOT’s comparatively low application rates and application frequencies, may potentially cause long-term infrastructure durability impacts; (4) environmental regulations and literature suggest minimal added risk to the environment associated with TxDOT’s current usage of snow and ice control chemicals; (5) under typical Texas winter weather and road conditions, at manufacturer’s recommended application rates, granular road salt performed comparably to or better than MeltDown 20® at lower cost per lane mile and similarly, salt brine performed comparably to MeltDown Apex™ with the added benefit that salt brine does not create a slick pavement surface for anti-icing when applied at temperatures above freezing; and (6) cost savings associated with TxDOT’s snow and ice operations can be achieved through standardized selection of materials, improved operational efficiency, better risk management practices, and use of performance-based models for snow and ice control.

• Record URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/texastech/0-6793-1.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=35573
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/35585
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Tech University, Lubbock

  Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation
  P.O. Box 41023
  Lubbock, TX  United States  79409-1023

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office
  125 E 11th Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Jackson, Andrew
  • Rainwater, Ken
  • Lawson, William
  • Senadheera, Sanjaya
  • Liang, Daan
  • Surles, James
  • Morse, Audra
  • Yan, Weile
• Publication Date: 2017-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 549p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Brines; Corrosion; Costs; Environmental impacts; Literature reviews; Snow and ice control; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01653304
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-17-0-6793-1 – Vol. 1, 0-6793-1 – Vol. 1
• Contract Numbers: 0-6793
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 8 2017 9:46AM