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 improve safety, increase efficiency and save agencies money.

News & Events

New Clear Roads RFPs: Proposals due Dec. 16

Clear Roads is currently soliciting investigator proposals for seven new research projects. For all projects, the deadline to submit proposals is Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Clear Roads Research is Now a Provisional Test Method

The Mechanical Rocker Test method, originally developed by Nebraska DOT more than a decade ago, was validated through Clear Roads research project 18-06 as a low-cost and repeatable method for determining the efficacy of liquid deicers. As a result of this work, all transportation agencies can objectively compare deicers on the market.

New Clear Roads Research: Designing Sheds for Storing Salt

Clear Roads project 20-06, Salt Shed Design Template, developed guidance for a set of scalable salt shed designs that can be used as a basic template depending on a DOT’s salt storage needs.

Winter Maintenance Research Roundup

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

Recent Research Results

New Clear Roads Research: Incorporating Pavement Friction Data into Operational Decisions

Real-time information about a pavement’s surface can help transportation agencies ensure roads have adequate traction and salt is applied only where it’s needed. This Clear Roads project evaluated roadway grip data as a viable source for informing winter maintenance operations, and developed models that use the data to identify the need for salt applications.

Clear Roads Research is Now a Provisional Test Method

The Mechanical Rocker Test method, originally developed by Nebraska DOT more than a decade ago, was validated through Clear Roads research project 18-06 as a low-cost and repeatable method for determining the efficacy of liquid deicers. As a result of this work, all transportation agencies can objectively compare deicers on the market.

New Clear Roads Synthesis Report: Managing Videos and Images

This recently completed Clear Roads synthesis project surveyed member states and other winter maintenance professionals and reviewed relevant literature to help transportation agencies implement effective policies and best practices for properly managing video and image data.

New Resources

New Clear Roads Research: Incorporating Pavement Friction Data into Operational Decisions

Real-time information about a pavement’s surface can help transportation agencies ensure roads have adequate traction and salt is applied only where it’s needed. This Clear Roads project evaluated roadway grip data as a viable source for informing winter maintenance operations, and developed models that use the data to identify the need for salt applications.

New Clear Roads Meeting Materials Posted

Clear Roads held its fall business meeting last month in Bloomington, Minnesota from September 16-18.

Clear Roads Research is Now a Provisional Test Method

The Mechanical Rocker Test method, originally developed by Nebraska DOT more than a decade ago, was validated through Clear Roads research project 18-06 as a low-cost and repeatable method for determining the efficacy of liquid deicers. As a result of this work, all transportation agencies can objectively compare deicers on the market.