Strategies for Winter Highway Maintenance

Wilfrid A. Nixon
Norman S. J. Foster
1997

Winter is a powerful force to reckon with in the northern portion of the United States, and the harsh effects of winter weather can take quite a toll on transportation infrastructure and its users. It is therefore important for winter maintenance practices to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible. This report examines the current state of practice in winter maintenance, reviews current and relevant literature, and suggests strategies to improve current winter maintenance practices.

Two surveys were conducted in the course of this study: the first was mailed to all Iowa counties and all cities in Iowa with populations greater than 25,000; the second surveyed state DOTs. The response rate was very high, and the data collected have proven extremely useful toward understanding how winter maintenance is conducted at present and pinpointing major problems. Survey results were cross-referenced with our review of current literature to identify areas were research is being conducted to meet the needs expressed by survey respondents.

Not surprisingly, we found a fair amount of overlap between areas of research and areas of need. Still, some needs are not being met, particularly in the areas of innovative management methods (methods that incorporate new technology into winter maintenance in an optimal way) and "blue sky" (high-risk, high-payoff) research.

Because winter maintenance, like most activities, can benefit from new directions and new methodologies, the information gathered in the course of this study has been synthesized into a proposed strategy for winter maintenance that consists of a series of suggestion.

$14.95, 68 pp., 7 figures, perfect binding