chapter 1 roadway treatment goals
TRANSCRIPT
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Roadway Treatment Goals Due to the dynamic and diverse nature of winter weather and resultant road conditions, WSDOT maintenance personnel use a variety of methods and materials to help prevent snow and ice formation on state highways. Outcomes of snow and ice control treatments will vary, dependent upon severity of winter weather events, topography, traffic levels and speeds, and proximity to support facilities (i.e. liquid chemical storage tanks and salt stockpiles). While outcomes can be measured in a variety of ways, the motoring public most often measures maintenance efforts in terms of road conditions during and immediately after winter weather events. Maintenance personnel also rate roadway conditions during the winter season (see chapter 2). This information is used to project expected road conditions associated with snow and ice treatment levels for different events. The unique nature of individual winter weather events limits the relevance of projected expectations on a given storm, but when ratings from an entire winter season are averaged, they become a good indicator of the Level of Service (LOS) provided by maintenance personnel over the entire season. Winter climates differ greatly between Eastern and Western Washington, so road treatment levels may vary on either side of the Cascades to match the ability to respond to those conditions. Limited funding also requires prioritization of roads for snow and ice control, so that different levels of service will be employed for individual roads and sections of roads. Eastern Washington Treatment Goals: In Eastern Washington periodic snowfall events are typical and freezing temperatures and relatively drier conditions may persist for the duration of the winter season. The winter maintenance program (labor, equipment, and materials) is sized and developed to facilitate the movement and safety of traffic under normal expected winter conditions. The exceptional winter weather event in Eastern Washington is typically a wide spread ice storm or a snowstorm of severe intensity and duration. The Snow and Ice program is funded and equipped based primarily on historical records and the average winter conditions collected and compared over time. When occasional extreme winter weather occurs, the program cannot provide the accustomed level of service because existing resources are insufficient for this type of event. Since these types of events happen infrequently, it would be inefficient management of resources to size and base a winter maintenance program for the exceptional winter weather event. Western Washington Treatment Goals: In Western Washington the winter season typically lasts from late November thru early March. The weather is generally cool and wet with occasional ice or snow events. The winter maintenance program (labor, equipment, and materials) is sized and based to facilitate the movement and safety of traffic under normal expected winter conditions. This will typically be when temperatures drop and create black ice or frost conditions. A light to moderate snowfall event may also occasionally take place. These are typically characterized by localized events. The exceptional winter weather event in Western Washington is going to be a heavy snowstorm, short in duration over a wide geographic area. The Snow and Ice program is funded and equipped based primarily on historical records and the average winter conditions collected and compared over time. When the occasional heavy snow storm occurs, the program cannot provide the accustomed level of service because existing resources are insufficient for this type of event. Since these types of events happen infrequently, it would be inefficient management of resources to size and base a winter maintenance program for the exceptional winter weather event.
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Other Facilities: The primary function and mission of the Snow and Ice program is response to roadway conditions in order to keep traffic moving and to provide for the accustomed level of service. WSDOT recognizes that there are other facilities besides state highways that may rely upon state forces for winter response in order to keep those facilities functional. These can include WSDOT Ferries parking lots, Park & Ride lots, WSDOT regional and area facility lots and some sidewalks that were constructed using Federal Funds. In all cases, response to roadway conditions will take precedence over any such activities, and these facilities will be handled on a “as conditions allow” basis. This may mean that such facilities will remain unmaintained until such time that all roadways in any given region are clear, level of service goals are met, and normal movement of goods and services is restored.
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Treatment Level Goals
Washington State Department of Transportation Description of Roadway Treatment Actions
Level 1
1. Pre-event: Pre-treat roadway with anti-icing chemicals if conditions are appropriate for such treatment. Monitor the treatment for effectiveness and for the need to reapply.
2. During event: Apply deicing chemicals to roadway during a snow event to keep snow
and ice from accumulating and bonding to the pavement and to expedite the process of mechanical removal. If compact snow or black ice forms on the roadway, apply pre-wet solid chemicals to break the snow/ice bond and to assist the process of mechanical removal.
3. Post-event: Continue snow and ice removal operations including chemical and
mechanical methods until bare pavement is achieved.
Level 2
1. Pre-event: Maintain the same as higher priority roadways after those roadways have been treated and as resources allow.
2. During event: Apply deicing chemicals to roadway during a snow event to keep snow
and ice from accumulating and bonding to the pavement and to expedite the process of mechanical removal. If compact snow or black ice forms on the roadway, apply pre-wet solid chemicals to break the snow/ice bond and to assist the process of mechanical removal.
3. Post Event: Return pavement to bare and wet condition as soon as practical using
plowing as the primary operation with moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist snow and ice removal.
Level 3
1. Pre-event: Maintain the same as higher priority roadways after those roadways have been treated and as resources allow.
2. During event: Apply deicers on first passes when and where necessary to keep snow and
ice from accumulating. Subsequent passes should rely primarily on plowing with the moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist mechanical snow and ice removal.
3. Post event: Return pavement to bare and wet condition as soon as practical using
plowing as the primary operation with moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist snow and ice removal.
Level 4
1. Pre-event: Maintain the same as higher priority roadways after those roadways have been treated and as resources allow.
2. During event: Apply deicers on first passes when and where necessary to keep snow and
ice from accumulating. Subsequent passes should rely primarily on plowing with the moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist mechanical snow and ice removal.
3. Post event: Return pavement to bare and wet condition as soon as practical using
plowing as the primary operation with moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist snow and ice removal.
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Note: The use of abrasives, either alone or in combination with salt is allowable at all levels when conditions are appropriate for such use. This would include, but not be limited to conditions too cold for the effective use of salt, heavy snow or black ice where maintaining traction is a concern and on subsequent passes.
Level 5 (Until closed for the season.)
1. Pre-event: Maintain the same as higher priority roadways after those roadways have
been treated and as resources allow.
2. During event: Apply deicers on first passes when and where necessary to keep snow and ice from accumulating. Subsequent passes should rely primarily on plowing with the moderate use of pre-wet materials to assist mechanical snow and ice removal.
3. Post event: Return to bare and wet as resources allow.
JeffersonJefferson
IslandIsland
ThurstonThurston
101
18
18
169
169
167
167
161
161
16
16
7
7
410
410
516
516
509
509
405
99
99
520
522
522
522
524104
2
2
525
101
104
20
5
20
99
SnohomishSnohomish
5
OR HQ
COUPEVILLE
510
TNB
KENT
OR HQ
LOFALL
RENTON
MONROE
TACOMA
CORSON
NWR HQ
SHELTON
MOTTMAN
WILLOWS
BUCKLEY
PRESTON
SPOKANE ST.
EVERETT
ENUMCLAW
BELLEVUE
WSDOT HQ
WALKER MT.BALLINGER
ARLINGTONCOUPEVILLE
LAKEGENEVA
PORTORCHARD
DISCOVERY BAY
ClallamClallam JeffersonJefferson
ClallamClallam
KingKing
MasonMason
KitsapKitsap
3
9
507
202
99
18
16
169
522
104
203
525
1658
106
509
162
302
516
167
164
524
19
305
520
512
108
527
119
116
531
900
303
92
515
160
96
181
307
166
529
526
528
308
518
163
300
513
304
102
523
599
519
302s
104
99
304
16
167
900
101
5
90
405
705
5
90
5
5OL
NW
PUGET SOUND REGIONTREATMENT LEVEL GOALS
0 73.5Miles
Puget Sound RegionSnow and Ice Plan
Roadway Treatment Goals
Latest version: 11/01/2012Supersedes Previous Editions
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
WSDOT Maintenance FacilityRegional BoundaryCounty Boundary
Treatment Level GoalsCity Responsibility
9
109
5
503
1497
7
105
504
1212
20
101
101
101
405
5
ELMA
YELM
KELSO
FORKS
SEKIU
ALDER
HAZEL
ALGER
OR HQ
BINGEN
TOLEDO
MORTON
LOFALLMONROE
TACOMA
SWR HQ
NASELLE
SHELTON
MOTTMAN
WILLOWS BUCKLEY
SHUKSAN
RAYMOND
EVERETT
WOODLAND
ENUMCLAW
NEWHALEM
CHEHALIS
ABERDEENWSDOT HQ
CATHLAMET
WASHOUGAL
WALKER MT
SKYKOMISH
ARLINGTON
VANCOUVER
MT VERNON
GREENWATER
COAL CREEK
COUPEVILLE
GOLDENDALE
BELLINGHAM
AMANDA PARK
MAPLE FALLS
MT ST HELENS
FARGHER LAKE
PORT ANGELES
DISCOVERY BAY
KingKing
LewisLewis
ClallamClallam
PiercePierce
KlickitatKlickitat
JeffersonJefferson
SnohomishSnohomish
PacificPacific
SkamaniaSkamania
Grays HarborGrays Harbor
CowlitzCowlitz
MasonMason
ClarkClark
KitsapKitsap
ThurstonThurston
IslandIsland
WahkiakumWahkiakum
SkagitSkagit
WhatcomWhatcom
San JuanSan Juan20
14
4
112
410
7
542
9
503
504
6
105
530
507
109
142
508
141
161
500
11
8
103
505
162
123
539
548
706
411
510
401
108
506
110
501
119
547
532
113
702
544
546
107
122
432
502
536
534
100
409
20s
503s
102
197
115
131
14
9
121
542
101
12
2
97
101
5
90
WESTERN WASHINGTONTREATMENT LEVEL GOALS
0 2512.5Miles
Western WashingtonSnow and Ice Plan
Roadway Treatment Goals
Latest version: 10/31/2011Supersedes Previous Editions
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
WSDOT Maintenance FacilityRegional BoundaryCounty Boundary
Treatment Level GoalsCity Maintained
97
20
20
20
2020
20
97
2
2
2
2
2828
21
21
21
174
155
27
27
90
90
97
2231
395
395
25
17
17
82
82
82
12
12
12
395
395
26
26
261
21
195
195
90
27
27
125
2424
14
14
395
542
18
202
203
165
706
92
131
169
YAKIMAYAKIMA
OKANOGANOKANOGAN
GRANTGRANT
FERRYFERRY
CHELANCHELAN
KITTITASKITTITASADAMSADAMS
BENTONBENTON
WHITMANWHITMAN
LINCOLNLINCOLN
STEVENSSTEVENS
DOUGLASDOUGLASSPOKANESPOKANE
FRANKLINFRANKLIN
PEND OREILLEPEND OREILLE
WALLA WALLAWALLA WALLA
ASOTINASOTINCOLUMBIACOLUMBIA
GARFIELDGARFIELD
IONE
HYAK
TWISP
BERNE
PASCO
ER HQ
ORIENT
WILBUR
ODESSA
GEIGER
DAYTON
EASTON
GEORGE
CHELAN
COLFAX
SCR HQ
NCR HQ
HUNTERS
SPRAGUE
PULLMAN
NEWPORT
POMEROY
ANATONE
CONNELL
PROSSER
RIMROCK
OTHELLO
BLEWETT
EPHRATA
REPUBLIC
BREWSTER
TONASKET
COLVILLE
BULLFROG
OKANOGAN
NORTHPORT
RITZVILLE OAKESDALE
WASHTUCNA
CLARKSTON
TOPPENISH
MANSFIELD
DAVENPORT
COTTONWOOD
ELLENSBURG
CAMP MASON
MOSES LAKE
WATERVILLE
N. SPOKANE
EAST SELAH
COULEE CITYLEAVENWORTH
WALLA WALLA
GROUSECREEK
KELLERFERRY
ELECTRIC CITY
PINES ROAD
90
82 182
2
12
97
395
195
97a
730
2
2
297
28
26
25
410
2117 27
24
23
155
124
231
129
174
260
22
172
240
291
153
261
243127
31
221
821
241
262
203
125
165
194
290
904
272
10
206
211
971
283164
706
902
173
225
397
281970
224
903
270
900
263
271
150
215
292
823
278
282
207
223
170
906
131
274
26
169
92
171
EASTERN WASHINGTONTREATMENT LEVEL GOALS
0 2512.5Miles
Eastern WashingtonSnow and Ice Plan
Roadway Treatment Goals
Latest version: 11/1/2012Supersedes Previous Editions
Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5
WSDOT Maintenance FacilityRegional BoundaryCounty Boundary
Treatment Level Goals