WINTER MAINTENANCE RESEARCH IN MINNESOTA. A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAM

The Minnesota state trunk highway system of about 19,200 kilometers (out of a total state road system of 232,000 kilometers) can be impacted by widely differing winter climatic conditions as one progresses from north to south and west to east. Increasing traffic and declining resources have led to a need for innovative winter maintenance strategies, techniques, equipment and materials to provide a safe and efficient state highway system for the people of Minnesota. Mn/DOT has demonstrated its commitment to innovation and edge technology by establishing an annual $750,000 maintenance operation research program within its operations account. Approximately 60 percent of these funds are spent on winter maintenance research: testing of deicing and anti-icing equipment, methods and materials; vehicle conspicuity studies; testing of plow types and cutting edges; and testing of snow fences.