Summary
Winter maintenance operations on highways are dramatically impacted by a road's exposure to sunlight. Solar radiation can increase pavement temperature, making deicing materials more effective at counteracting snow-pavement bonding. Areas where tree canopy casts shade over traveling lanes are likely to see lower average pavement temperatures and therefore higher demands on winter maintenance operations. Vegetation is sometimes removed to increase sun exposure and aid winter maintenance, yet there is little recognized guidance for this practice. Despite the recognized potential for increased performance and sustainability, the lack of recognized benefits can lead to community resistance to vegetation removal in some areas. This project evaluates how vegetation management near highways impacts pavement conditions in winter. Researchers use a combination of 1) desktop analysis of meteorological and winter maintenance records, and 2) more controlled real-time observations to quantify the impacts of sun exposure on pavement temperature and winter maintenance operations. Study findings will be summarized in a report and will be used to write a guide for vegetation management with winter maintenance operations benefits. State and local road agencies will benefit from improved ability to plan, prioritize, and communicate the benefits of vegetation management in different corridors based on expected winter maintenance impacts. The study may also help determine if there are circumstances where vegetation removal may cause new winter weather hazards and how those can be mitigated. Where properly applied, vegetation management efforts should have long-term benefits related to improved levels of service, regain time, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Staff from St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) propose to support Bolton & Menk's proposal to Clear Roads in response to the Clear Roads' RFP, titled "Using Vegetation Management Practices Near Roads to Leverage the Benefits of Solar Radiation."