Preserving the value of highway maintenance equipment against roadway deicers: a case study and preliminary cost benefit analysis

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to report the best practices of deicer corrosion control adopted by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to preserve the performance, reliability and value of its highway maintenance equipment assets. Design/methodology/approach – To enable quantitative analyses, data were collected from a site visit to WSDOT, as well as from a survey of maintenance practitioners from various transportation agencies. The direct costs related to equipment corrosion aggravated by the exposure to roadway deicers were analyzed, along with the direct benefits of mitigating such corrosion, using WSDOT as a case study. In addition, the same preliminary cost benefit analysis was conducted for an “average” Department of Transportation in a northern climate. Findings – Both cases show a highly favorable benefit-to-cost ratio for enhanced investment in controlling the risk of deicer corrosion. Research limitations/implications – It has not yet been possible to confirm this compelling argument because the analysis is partly based on assumptions instead of fully based on actual data. Practical implications – This work highlights the need to collect the relevant data such that future analysis and sensitivity analysis can be substantiated with actual data on costs and benefits. It concludes with a few suggestions for implementation. Originality/value – Many components in highway maintenance equipment fleet are at the risk of metallic corrosion, which is exacerbated in service environments where roadway deicers have been applied. This work lays the foundation for future research into this important issue.