16 WINTER MAINTENANCE
Of course this de-icing approach will not be right for all. Also, many local authorities with restrictive budgets would struggle to raise the capital needed to convert their fl eet to pre-wet for instance, even if they acknowledge the technique’s effectiveness and savings that could be incurred in the long-term.
A preventative approach
Those that can afford the investment, and who wish to adopt a more preventative approach to keeping roads clear, may also consider full liquid methodology. A technique that has been common in Denmark since the 1980s, this sees roads being sprayed with pure brine before the snow and ice hits. Utilising even less salt than the aforementioned techniques, this treatment does not require any activation from traffi c to become effective. This method is not as effective for packed snow and ice however, so it tends to offer real benefi ts when used alongside other reactive approaches. The overall future of best practice de-icing would appear on paper to be the use of combination spreaders that are equipped to offer an all-encompassing solution.
Indeed technology is perhaps as important a consideration as the type of salt used. For the councils that feel
“A technique that has been common in Denmark since the 1980s sees roads being sprayed with pure brine before snow and ice hits”
dry salt offers a suffi cient solution for their needs and budgets for example, further fi scal benefi ts could be achieved
DECEMBER 2013
The UK can learn from winter maintenance techniques used on the continent
www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk
by investing in plant that delivers swift and homogenous spreading and more effective de-icing with less salt consumption. Increased operational and maintenance effi ciencies can reduce ongoing costs, and a more accurate spread can protect surrounding landscapes from the contamination that can occur with haphazard dispersion. Once again innovations in neighbouring European countries have the ability to reap real advantages for the UK.
There is the argument that shorter, sharper cold snaps are perhaps more common in the UK than extended periods of snowfall, and so many would argue that this country does not need to adopt the same winter maintenance methodologies as nations with typically more extreme temperatures. In some parts of Sweden for example, temperatures can fall to as low as -30°C, with snow generally covering the ground from December to April and most of the country being icebound throughout.
However, the UK’s approach to winter road maintenance is being increasingly placed in the spotlight, so it is crucial that developments are made when it comes to the processes we can implement to deal with snow and ice.
The debate surrounding the best application for effective de-icing on our roads has been going on for over 15 years, so it is unlikely that a conclusive decision about the optimum approach will be made any time soon – nor does there need to be a defi nitive answer. None of the above technologies are panaceas. What will work for one urban location will perhaps not be appropriate for a rural location on the coast. However as greater evidence is accumulated as to the cost benefi ts of the different techniques, for different environments, it is important that we maintain an open mind, in order to keep the UK’s roads clear and safe.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68