1. Snow & Ice Control in Maine
Brian Burne, P.E. - Highway Maintenance Engineer

2. Presentation Overview
Understanding the basic approaches to snow and ice control
Material selection and materials used by MaineDOT
Historical Material usage at MaineDOT
Understanding MaineDOT’s current practices and how they affect material use

3. De-Icing Vs. Anti-Icing
High sand usage
High material costs
Snow “pack”
High operational costs
Anti-Icing
Strategic use of salt
Leverages technology
Bare pavement quicker after storms (Higher LOS)

4. Anti-icing
“Highway anti-icing is the snow and ice control practice of preventing the formation or development of bonded snow and ice by timely applications of a chemical freezing-point depressant.”
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

5. Anti-icing
Anti-icing creates an opportunity for continuous improvement of snow and ice control strategies through the use of new and improved equipment and technologies

6. It’s About Balance…
Cost
Safety / Service
Environment

7. Components for an Effective Anti-icing Program
Get rid of as much snow and ice as possible
Maintain a working brine layer
Use only what you need for materials
Collect accurate information to know what needs to be done and to track what was done

8. Material Selection Considerations
Performance
Cost
Availability
Quality
Environmental Impacts
Storage Requirements
Application Requirements
Infrastructure Impacts

9. EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program http://www.epa.gov/dfe

10. To buy the book or download the Decision Tool:
Compiled research, discussed findings and developed a Decision Tool that allows states to weigh various concerns.
To buy the book or download the Decision Tool:

11. Decision Tool Policy Objectives:
NCHRP Project 06-16, Report 577
Decision Tool Policy Objectives:
Purchase Price
Performance as Melting Potential (Performance weighting should be at least 25%)
Natural Environment
Infrastructure
Decision Tool Operational Objectives:
Natural Environment – Aquatic Life, Drinking Water, Air Quality, Vegetation, Soil, Animals (Aquatic Life weighting should be at least 25%)
Infrastructure – Vehicles, Metal Infrastructure, Concrete Corrosion, Concrete Degradation

12. MaineDOT’s Material Tool Box
SALT (NaCl)
Melts snow & ice and prevents bonding
(15o ± and up)
SAND
Provides traction
(All temps.)
SALT BRINE
Consistent, early corridor treatment
(15-20o ± and up)
Ice B’ Gone
Lower working temperatures
(-20+/- and up)

14. Temperature Matters

16. Average Salt Usage (FY2009)
State ME NY NH VT MA
Lane
Miles
8600
43000
8300
3400
16,000
Salt
Used
92k
950k
160k
72k
610k
Tons
/LM 11 22 19 21 38

17. Materials are only part of the equation
Equipment
Plows
Controls
Spreaders
Weather Sensors
Strategies
Pre-wetting
Pre-treating
Data recording
Materials
Solids
Liquids
Additives
Blends

18. What You Should Know About Safe Winter Roads and the Environment
“Too much salt and sand can harm the environment and contaminate drinking water supplies. With some simple techniques and new equipment, however, crews can use less sand and salt while making roads significantly safer.” EPA 901-F -

19. Plowing: Getting rid of as much snow as possible

20. The Tow Plow

21. Blade Alternatives

22. Blades that adjust to the road – Spring Tooth Plow

23. Blade Adapters

24. The “Squeegee Effect” Snowmobile shock absorbers
24 inch rubber segments rest of plow
24 inch poly blade segment on outside edges

25. Using Only What You Need (knowing the pavement temperatures)

26. Using Only What You Need (Controlling and tracking material applications)

27. Collecting Information (Reporting)

29. Pre-Treating the Road (Treating the routes before the storm)

30. Treated Highway

31. Pre-wetting (for activating the salt and keeping it on the road)

32. Incorporating the new while upgrading the old…
European hoppers that pre-wet at rates up to 30% provide very good results and have taught us concepts that help conserve salt while improving overall results.

33. Using Only What You Need (MDSS - Forecasting for Snow Fighters)

34. Weather and Pavement Data RWIS – Road Weather Information Systems

35. Road State (Grip) Sensor
MaineDOT and Vaisala mounted a “Grip” sensor on a vehicle and found that these non-intrusive sensors can also be made mobile while still providing reliable information. Next step is to work with Cirus to add GPS.

36. NWS Partnerships
DOTs and local NWS offices can create effective teams: In Maine, the National Weather Service is a part of MaineDOT’s annual snowfighter training. Of course, they also continue to provide valuable data before, during and after every winter storm. MaineDOT shares weather observations from its snowfighters and is working towards providing a direct feed from GPS enabled trucks.

37. Personnel Training

38. 2 days of snow and ice control training
WISE College
“Winter Ice and Snow Experts”
2 days of snow and ice control training
Offered in the fall
Includes new employees and experienced
Course materials are updated annually
Requires a team of instructors

39. 2 – ½ day classroom sessions covering:
WISE College (cont.)
2 – ½ day classroom sessions covering:
Material properties
Application rates and procedures
Environmental considerations
Cost considerations
Best Practices

40. 2 – ½ day hands-on sessions covering:
WISE College (cont.)
2 – ½ day hands-on sessions covering:
Ground Speed Control
Plows and Wings
Wheels, Tires, and Chains
Troubleshooting and Equipment Maintenance
Sanders and Spreaders

41. MaineDOT’s Snow and Ice Web Site:
QUESTIONS?