Winter Maintenance E-Newsletter - November 2009

Produced by CTC & Associates LLC
To be notified of new issues email, info@ctcandassociates.com

Past Newsletters: August 2009, May 2009, February 2009

News

2010 North American Snow Conference
The American Public Works Association is gearing up for its next North American Snow Conference, to be held April 18 to 21, 2010, at the Qwest Center in Omaha. The 2010 conference will feature more than 40 education and roundtable sessions and technical tours, with more than 120 companies represented on the exhibit floor. Online registration opens December 1, 2009. Details.

Version 3.0 of Road Weather Information Tool Available for Download
FHWA’s Road Weather Resource Identification database includes hundreds of research reports, articles and other publications about road weather. Version 3.0, now available for download, includes more than 950 resources and allows users to navigate the database using three different search options.
Register (optional) and download the software.

E-Circular Addresses Winter Maintenance
A recently released e-circular of presentations from the July 2009 12th AASHTO-TRB Maintenance Management Conference includes papers that address topics such as maintenance decision support systems and cost-benefit analyses of the use of weather information in winter maintenance. E-circular.

Highlighting Winter Maintenance Technologies
New or improved winter maintenance technologies being tested by Iowa DOT are spotlighted in a recent edition of Iowa DOT’s Research News. Among the topics discussed are Iowa’s road weather information system, thermal mapping, equipment developments for plows, blades and cameras, snowplow simulator training, and snow fence research. Newsletter.

APWA Reporter Online Covers Winter Maintenance
The October 2009 issue of APWA Reporter Online is all about winter maintenance, from the calibration of material spreaders to optimizing snow routes and conducting snow and ice training.
Link to the October 2009 issue.

Winter Maintenance Edition of Milestones
The Ontario Good Roads Association has released the annual Winter Maintenance edition of its Milestones ezine. Topics addressed in the 2009 edition include: salt management, minimum maintenance standards, budgeting for winter maintenance, and dealing with climate change and infrastructure. Articles.

Using Natural Barriers to Block Blowing Snow
Iowa DOT’s successful and long-standing living snow fence program calls for the planting of a combination of trees, shrubs and native grasses, both on and off the right of way, to serve as a windbreak. An article from the November 2009 digital edition of Better Roads discusses how these windbreaks may reduce the amount of plowing needed, increase safety by increasing visibility and keeping snow off the roadway, and also provide wildlife habitat and control erosion. Article.

Research Reports

Evaluation of North Dakota’s Fixed Automated Spray Technology Systems
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, October 2009
This study evaluated North Dakota’s two existing fixed automated spray technology systems and concluded that the FAST installations appear to be working as intended. Factors contributing to the successful systems include selecting appropriate locations based on winter crash data, and having knowledgeable staff assist in designing and implementing the system, monitoring its operation, and performing required maintenance. Report.

Using Risk Analysis to Assess Treatments for Frost and Ice
New Zealand Transport Agency Research Report 382, August 2009
Researchers developed procedures for assessing the level of risk associated with treating frost and ice with either mineral grit or calcium magnesium acetate and compared these levels of risk with other common road conditions, including wet and dry road surfaces. The procedures can also be used to assess how the timing of a particular treatment changes the level of risk. Report.

Performance Measurement for Highway Winter Maintenance Operations
Iowa Highway Research Board Project TR-491, June 2009
This project produced a performance measure based on average vehicle speed that works like this: If the maximum expected average speed reduction for a road is 20 mph, and the storm severity for a particular storm is 0.6, then the target average speed reduction for that road in that storm is 0.6 x 20 mph, or 12 mph. If the average speed on the road in question during and after the storm is only 12 mph or less than the average speed on that road in good weather conditions, then the winter maintenance performance goal has been met. Report.

Field Testing of Abrasive Delivery Systems in Winter Maintenance
Iowa Highway Research Board Project TR-458, May 2009
Methods to optimize the use of abrasives are discussed and compared in this report. Results are also reported for an Iowa DOT test of zero-velocity spreaders and field studies conducted in Johnson County on the road surface friction of pavements treated with abrasive applications using different modes of delivery. Researchers noted no significant difference in material placement performance between a standard delivery system and a chute-based delivery system. Report.

Investigation of Materials for the Reduction and Prevention of Corrosion on Highway Maintenance Equipment
Iowa Highway Research Board Project TR-472, May 2009
This study examined how corrosion occurs on maintenance trucks to find methods to minimize the major corrosion mechanisms and deal with each maintenance situation. Researchers recommend the use of full-scale field trials to gather objective and unambiguous data that could be used to develop procedures to minimize corrosion in winter maintenance equipment. Report.

Cost Benefits of Weather Information for Winter Road Maintenance
Western Transportation Institute (sponsored by Aurora), April 2009
Using benefit-cost analyses, researchers found that the use of weather information in winter road maintenance could bring more benefits than costs, and winter maintenance costs could be reduced by improving the accuracy of weather information and/or increasing the use of weather information. This study also identified secondary benefits of deploying and using road weather information systems. Report.

Evaluation of the Use of Snowplowable Raised Pavement Markers
Report KTC-09-09, April 2009
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness and durability of snowplowable raised pavement markers installed in Kentucky. Data show that continued use of the currently approved snowplowable RPM can be justified if the castings are properly installed on new pavements and maintained. An evaluation of centerline rumble strip installations showed that they should be considered on newly paved rural, two-lane roads with 12-foot lane widths and paved shoulders. Report.

Research in Progress

Evaluation of Pave Guard Deck Heating System
This project will be Missouri DOT’s first attempt at installing a bridge deck heating system as a means to control or eliminate snow and ice accumulation on the bridge deck wearing surface. Researchers will determine the constructability and evaluate the effectiveness of placing the Pave Guard system in a bridge deck on Route 10 in Clay County. Sponsor: Missouri Department of Transportation. Abstract.

Sealants, Treatments and Deicing Salt Practices to Limit Bridge Deck Corrosion
Researchers will determine current Kentucky Transportation Cabinet practice for applying deicing salts to bridge decks and provide KYTC with recommendations implementing bridge preservation actions, including the application of sealers, densifiers and/or inhibitors to bridge decks. Sponsor: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Abstract.