The Clear Roads Research Program

brings together transportation professionals and researchers from around the country to drive innovation in the field of winter maintenance. By evaluating materials, equipment and methods in real-world conditions, the program identifies the most effective techniques and technologies to save agencies money, improve safety and increase efficiency.

News & Events

Winter Maintenance Research Roundup

Check out the recent research from transportation organizations around the country.

New Clear Roads Research: Training Module Development for Evaluation of Storm Severity Index and Winter Severity Index Variables

Clear Roads project 18-03, Evaluation of SSI and WSI Variables, produced a step-by-step guide and flowchart tool to help agencies identify or develop severity index methods to fit their needs and available data sources. As estimating the impact of weather on roadway maintenance resources is becoming an increasingly important issue for agencies across the country, a recently completed Clear Roads project, 21-04, produced additional training modules geared toward three key audiences: division directors, snow and ice managers, and supervisors.

New Clear Roads Meeting Materials Posted

Documents from Clear Roads’ fall 2024 meeting, including the agenda, budget and minutes, are now available on the Clear Roads Meetings page.

Vendors: Is Your Product Set to Expire on the QPL?

Many of the product listing on Clear Roads’ Qualified Products List show an expiration date of 12/31/24. Once expired, products will be dropped from the list and vendors will need to complete a new product submission form to be added again.

Recent Research Results

New Clear Roads Research: Training Module Development for Evaluation of Storm Severity Index and Winter Severity Index Variables

Clear Roads project 18-03, Evaluation of SSI and WSI Variables, produced a step-by-step guide and flowchart tool to help agencies identify or develop severity index methods to fit their needs and available data sources. As estimating the impact of weather on roadway maintenance resources is becoming an increasingly important issue for agencies across the country, a recently completed Clear Roads project, 21-04, produced additional training modules geared toward three key audiences: division directors, snow and ice managers, and supervisors.

New Clear Roads Research: Update to CR 13-04 – Best Practices for Protecting DOT Equipment from the Corrosion Effect of Chemical Deicers

Maintenance equipment exposed to chloride deicers can quickly corrode, presenting a common challenge for transportation agencies across the country. In 2015, Clear Roads project 13-04 published a Manual of Best Practices to compile the various products agencies use as well as guidance for preventing corrosion on highway maintenance equipment.

New Clear Roads Research: Tools to Maximize Snowplowing Efforts

This Clear Roads project developed a methodology for calculating plow cycle times considering road type, road width, weather conditions, traffic volume, and other factors. This could form the basis for a map-based visualization tool that agencies can format with their own electronic data to make real-time operational decisions.

New Resources

New Clear Roads Meeting Materials Posted

Documents from Clear Roads’ fall 2024 meeting, including the agenda, budget and minutes, are now available on the Clear Roads Meetings page.

New Clear Roads Tools Featured in APWA Reporter

A new feature article in the October issue of APWA Reporter highlights three new Clear Roads tools designed to help make winter maintenance easier, faster and more cost-effective.

New Podcast Episode of Talkin’ Winter Ops

The newest episode of AASHTO’s Talkin’ Winter Ops podcast is all about Clear Roads!