LEVEL OF SERVICE OF WINTER MAINTENANCE ON HIGH VOLUME MOTORWAYS-STRATEGIES, PROBLEMS AND LIMITS OF IMPLEMENTATION

Motorways (so called Autobahnen) in Germany today carry more than 40% of the entire traffic volume of classified, rural highways and roads and they represent only about 5% of the total length of the road network. Maintaining traffic safety, optimum driving conditions and a high capacity of motorways all around the year, even during the winter season is of great importance for the economy and in general for the driving public. As a consequence of a major expected increase in traffic in the future the quality of winter maintenance has to meet ever rising standards. On the other side, because of budgetary concerns, great efforts are necessary to utilize all potential improvements to effectively increase these standards. This paper discusses measures that are the result of experience and problem analysis in winter maintenance practices especially in the State of Bavaria because Bavaria has the most area in Germany with harsh winter climates.