The Clear Roads Research Program

brings together transportation professionals and researchers from around the country to drive innovation in the field of winter maintenance. By evaluating materials, equipment and methods in real-world conditions, the program identifies the most effective techniques and technologies to save agencies money, improve safety and increase efficiency.

News & Events

Clear Roads Earns Shout-Out on New FHWA Audiocast

As one of two winners of the first-ever TPF Excellence Awards, Clear Roads featured prominently on the inaugural episode of the FHWA’s R&T Now: Interchanges audiocast as a prime example of state cooperation and collaboration.

Clear Roads Featured at National Briefing

Last month, AASHTO’s Winter Weather Management Technical Services Program, Maintenance Committee and Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group jointly held its 5th National Briefing on Winter Maintenance and Road Weather to showcase the activities of the various organizations dedicated to winter and year-round transportation maintenance.

New Clear Roads RFPs: Proposals due Oct. 4

Clear Roads is currently soliciting investigator proposals for three new research projects.

Clear Roads Selects 2024 Research Projects

At its 2024 spring meeting, the Clear Roads Technical Advisory Committee reviewed new research proposals and selected projects to fund. This year, the committee selected three research projects and four synthesis projects.

Recent Research Results

New Clear Roads Research: Tools to Maximize Snowplowing Efforts

This Clear Roads project developed a methodology for calculating plow cycle times considering road type, road width, weather conditions, traffic volume, and other factors. This could form the basis for a map-based visualization tool that agencies can format with their own electronic data to make real-time operational decisions.

New Clear Roads Research: Identifying Environmentally Sensitive Roadways

To help agencies identify which highway segments are most sensitive, this Clear Roads project developed a geospatial tool that offers an analysis of environmental impacts that can be balanced against other safety and performance objectives.

New Clear Roads Research: Efficacy, Cost and Impacts of Non-Chloride Deicers

Salt products used during winter maintenance can corrode vehicles, damage vegetation and contaminate road-side wells and waterways. Non-chloride deicers could potentially serve as viable substitutes, but their pros and cons have not always been been well understood.

New Resources

New Podcast Episode of Talkin’ Winter Ops

The newest episode of AASHTO’s Talkin’ Winter Ops podcast is all about Clear Roads!

Winter Maintenance Research Roundup

Check out the recent research from transportation organizations around the country.

Entry-Level CDL Training Materials

A new federal rule is changing how transportation agencies train equipment operators who need to obtain or upgrade a commercial … Read more