Winter Maintenance E-Newsletter - May 2010

Produced by CTC & Associates LLC
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Past Newsletters: February 2010, November 2009, August 2009

News

APWA International Public Works Congress & Exposition
The 2010 American Public Works Association’s International Public Works Congress & Exposition is slated for August 15 to 18, 2010, in Boston, Mass. This year’s Congress features more than 125 technical and professional development sessions that address current public works issues and ongoing challenges. An extensive gathering of exhibitors on the 100,000-square-foot exhibit floor will showcase the latest products, services and technologies specific to public works. Details.

Prior Lake’s Award-Winning Snow and Ice Program
The city of Prior Lake, Minn., is the 2010 recipient of APWA’s Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award. Presented at the annual North American Snow Conference, this award recognizes Prior Lake’s “smart” snow and ice control program that has reduced annual salt use by 30 percent and application rates per lane mile by up to 65 percent. Read the article in a recent issue of APWA Reporter to learn more about Prior Lake’s custom chemical mixes that treat a variety of weather conditions with a concern for both the environment and controlling costs. Find the article on page 36 of the online edition.

Maintaining Your Winter Maintenance Fleet
Find advice from top winter maintenance leaders on managing winter maintenance equipment in the April 2010 digital edition of Better Roads. Proper maintenance and storage becomes critical as tight budgets lead many agencies to delay equipment replacement. But even with cutbacks, agencies are encouraged to recognize the tipping point when replacing equipment makes more sense than investing too much in maintenance. A cheat sheet provides the top five tips for spring equipment maintenance. Article.

Sand Recycling Program in Brampton, Ontario, Recognized
The February 2010 issue of Milestones spotlights the city of Brampton as Ontario Good Roads Association’s 2009 Innovation Management Practices winner. In a project that couples environmental responsibility with cost savings, material collected from the city’s 35,000 catch basins is screened by a one-inch mesh to remove large bits of debris and then sent to a washing unit, where it is screened to a quarter of an inch to produce a clean sand slurry. In 2009, the city sent 5,229 tons of material for processing and expected to get back about 4,400 tons of winter sand for use in the upcoming winter season—saving the city about $55,000. Article.

Missouri DOT Tests Bridge Solar-Warming System
Solar heating as a deicing strategy is being tested in a Missouri DOT project that outfits two bridges in Excelsior Springs, Mo., with solar-warming systems designed by Pave Guard Technologies Inc. A recent issue of Roads & Bridges describes the warming system, which operates much like radiant heating works in the floor of a residential home. The fully automated system activates when the temperature drops to 38 °F. MoDOT plans to evaluate the warming system over two winter cycles. If results are positive, MoDOT may consider adding solar systems to other bridges. Article.

Training Opportunity
Snow School 2010, a three-day course offered by the Ontario Good Roads Association, is scheduled for October 4 to 6, 2010, in Alliston, Ontario. Recommended for winter maintenance supervisors, equipment operators, mechanics, technicians and others responsible for salt management plans, the course modules provide a comprehensive overview of the latest winter maintenance practices, equipment and materials. Details.

ACRP Project Evaluates Alternative Deicers
An April 2010 ACRP Research Results Digest summarizes key findings and conclusions of an Airport Cooperative Research Program project that examined the potential to develop aircraft and airfield deicing and anti-icing formulations with lower aquatic toxicity and reduced biochemical oxygen demand. Among the results are recommendations for operationally and commercially viable alternative deicer formulations. ACRP Research Results Digest.

Research Reports

Evaluation of the SafeLane Overlay System for Crash Reduction on Bridge Deck Surfaces
MN/RC 2010-13, March 2010
This three-year study evaluated the winter performance of the SafeLane commercial overlay system at four bridge deck installations in the state of Minnesota. Analyses included mechanical and chemical testing of the components, chloride analysis as a function of depth, friction by skid test, and visual inspection. All sites were included in a comparison of accident frequency before and after overlay installation. Report.

Automated Vehicle Location, Data Recording, Friction Measurement and Applicator Control for Winter Road Maintenance
MN/RC 2010-07, February 2010
Researchers evaluated the ability of a new friction measurement system to provide an accurate measure of road conditions. The system is compact, modular and can be used on both snowplows and pick-up trucks. The project also tested a closed-loop system that uses friction measurement to automate control of a snowplow’s material spreader. An enhanced version of the automatic applicator control system uses real-time data from a geographic information system to automate treatment of roadway segments known to be problematic. Report.