Methods for Measuring and Reporting Winter Maintenance Activities

Abstract

The Winter Friction Project in Norway deals with practical, technical, and economic problems that arise in providing good friction conditions on winter roads. The project started in 1997, and the final report is scheduled for 2002. A main activity throughout the project period is to carry out field studies. The field studies consist of a testing program (scientific studies), to document performance of different friction improvement methods, and a follow-up study on roads in 10 counties, to document existing winter maintenance practice on both salted and sanded roads. The project has a need for measuring and reporting winter maintenance activities and winter standards in connection with scientific studies and as a part of the follow-up study. A system has been developed to evaluate the effects of different actions. The difference in standard achieved between salted and sanded roads is clear and is reflected in the number of measures and the friction standard. The results so far show that there is a difference in practice, which can be explained in part by different climatic and traffic conditions. But the results also show that there are differences in practice where the outer conditions are similar. This indicates that there is a potential for improvement, and changes will be made in view of the results from the scientific study.