New Technology Slashes Winter Maintenance Costs
A road weather information system makes traveling the West Virginia Parkway safer—and the technology pays for itself in 1 year.
The Challenge
Keeping a road clear of snow and ice is an expensive job. When the road climbs through mountainous terrain and averages 59 days of snow and ice a year, the challenge is even greater. That's the situation on the West Virginia Parkway, operated by the West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development, and Tourism Authority.
To make winter maintenance operations as cost-effective as possible, the West Virginia Parkways Authority decided to install a road weather information system (RWIS). The technology, evaluated under the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP), consists of sensors that constantly monitor precipitation, temperature, and other weather conditions, as well as the temperature and condition of pavement.
Putting the Technology to the Test
In 1989, the Parkways Authority installed four RWIS units along the 153-km (95-mi) West Virginia Parkway. Using the information these units collect, the Parkways Authority can decide exactly when and were to use winter maintenance crews, equipment, and materials.
One of the key applications is deciding when to call in crews to apply salt and other materials. "We use pavement temperatures and forecast weather to schedule crews and salt applications." says Bill Forrest, director of engineering and maintenance with the Parkways Authority. With real-time information on road and weather conditions, the agency can determine exactly when and where crews and equipment will be needed.
The result is lower costs for the Parkways Authority. "If we can delay salt application or call crews in later or send them home earlier during a storm, we save money," says Forrest. He calculates that the RWIS helps save up to 4 hours per worker, for total labor savings of about $2,300 per storm.
The RWIS also saves the Parkways Authority money on materials. "We use information on roadway temperatures and other weather conditions to delay salt application as long as possible," says Forrest. "We don't let salt trucks go out until the pavement temperature is below 2 ºC [35 ºF]. This way, we salt just before the pavement freezes."
This means the Parkways Authority can use less salt and other materials. Forrest estimates that the RWIS allows the agency to use 140 metric tons (150 tons) less salt per storm, which translates into a cost savings of $6,500. If the agency obtains this savings on only 15 winter storms—about half the annual average—the total comes to $94,500 a year.
These financial benefits add up quickly. Forrest says that the Parkways Authority paid for the RWIS in just 1 year.
But the benefits aren't all financial. Efficient winter maintenance operations translate into less snow and ice on the West Virginia Parkway. As a result, the highway is safer for motorists.
The Benefits
The West Virginia Parkways, Economic Development, and Tourism Authority reports that its RWIS has
- Improved highway safety by making winter maintenance more efficient.
- Saved thousands of dollars per storm on labor and salt.
