The Guide for Snow and Ice Control was first published back in 1999 and with the exception of an addendum has remained unchanged since then. Since then there has been a vast amount of research, field trials, and advancements in winter maintenance and road weather technologies. In 2018 a project was launched through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program to rewrite the Guide incorporating the latest state of the practice. The new guide has been produced, accepted by AASHTO’s Committee on Maintenance, and is in the process of being published by AASHTO as the AASHTO Guide for Snow and Ice Control.

While we don’t know exactly when the new Guide will be released, Brad Darr, Chair of the Committee on Maintenance - Maintenance Operations Technical Working Group, John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute and Principal Investigator for the project, and Diana Clonch, Subject Matter Expert supporting the project give us some insight into the new Guide, what you can expect to see in it, and how it came to be.

For more information on this project and the new Guide you can reach out to Brad Darr at bdarr@nd.gov John Habermann at j-habermann@tti.tamu.edu and/or Diana Clonch at dwclonch@gmail.com

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In 2004 a group of 5 states got together and pooled their money to test winter maintenance materials, equipment and methods for use by highway maintenance operations. The program has grown to 40 states and amassed a large collection of research and training. The Clear Roads Pooled Fund Program is funded through a $25,000 annual contribution per subscribing state and is eligible for SP&R federal pass through dollars.

Craig Bargfrede, Winter Maintenance Administrator for the Iowa DOT also serves as the current Chair of the Clear Roads Pooled Fund Study and is our guest to explain the program.

For more information you can check out the Clear Roads website at clear roads.org or reach out to Craig Bargfrede at craig.bargfrede@iowadot.us or Greg Waidley at greg.waidley@ctcandassociates.com

Listen in as Craig talks about the Clear Roads program and how it works to clear roads.

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Twenty years ago in 2004 “Where The Weather Meets The Road” was published by the National Academy of Science and it proposed a research roadmap over the next 20-years to advance road weather services. Now in 2024 the future described in Where The Weather Meets The Road is here Paul Pisano, Chair of the TRB Road Weather Committee and Dr. Gina Eosco, Division Chief, Science, Technology, and Society for the Weather Program Office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were both involved in this report and are here to discuss where we were, where we’ve come, and what the future might hold.

Check out the report at this link Where The Weather Meets The Road

You can continue the discussion of what you think the future of road weather management holds with Paul Pisano or Dr. Gina Eosco

Sign up for email notifications on future episodes and other communications associated with winter maintenance and winter weather management by clicking on subscribe on the Talkin' Winter Ops website at TalkinWinterOps.com

Thanks for listening in and stay safe out there!