Experiments with Anti-Icing in Washington State

Abstract

Many transportation agencies are feeling pressure to become more efficient in delivering maintenance products and services, including winter operations. Nowhere is this pressure greater than in Washington State, where elected officials and the public are demanding increased levels of service despite service-delivery cost increases and a decreased maintenance budget. In an attempt to meet these demands, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is conducting research on the cost-effectiveness of anti-icing, or pretreatments. The results of the first year of a 2-year research project are documented. The objectives of the research are to (a) determine the effectiveness of pretreatment operations in a variety of winter conditions, (b) determine the cost of the pretreatment operations and compare it with the cost of traditional winter operations in the same geographical area, and (c) provide recommendations for widespread implementation of pretreatment procedures within WSDOT if feasible and cost-effective. Three case studies are documented; in all cases, pretreatment operations provided a level of service comparable to that of past traditional operations. In addition, traditional winter operation methods were estimated to cost 3 to 11 times as much as pretreatment methods. More case studies and an expanded pretreatment program in WSDOT are planned for 1995–1996.