snowflakePartnership Projects

snow plow


National Winter Maintenance Peer Exchange

In collaboration with the Aurora pooled fund, Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program, FHWA, and the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters, Clear Roads helped to organize and host a national winter maintenance peer exchange conference dedicated to information sharing and research coordination among winter maintenance professionals in 2007. Thirty-five states plus Washington D.C. attended, and work continues on the 70 research problem statements developed. A second peer exchange took place August 24-26, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. For reports, related documents and updates on follow-up activities on the 2007 Peer Exchange, see the Montana State University Web site. For the 2009 Peer Exchange, see the SICOP Web site.

National Winter Safety Campaign

With the help of volunteer public information officers and winter maintenance professionals around the country, Clear Roads is coordinating a national multimedia campaign designed to educate drivers about the importance of driving safely in winter conditions. Browse and download the electronic campaign materials on the Winter Safety Campaign page of this site.

Computer-Based Training

Clear Roads supports the efforts of the Snow and Ice Pooled Fund Cooperative Program in developing computer-based training modules that help train snow plow drivers, maintenance crews and others. Four new CBT modules were released within the last year, Proper Plowing Techniques, Equipment Maintenance, Mitigating Blowing Snow, and Deicing Chemicals. By the end of summer, the remaining module, Snow and Ice Management will be available as well.

Snowplow Design Project

Clear Roads is working with the Winter Concept Vehicle Pooled Fund to conduct research on optimum snowplow design. The primary objectives of this research project can are efficient snow removal, driver safety and comfort, and improved financial efficiency. The goal was to develop a different type of snowplow blade with multiple edges that will eliminate as much snow and ice as possible in a single pass.