Sustaining Michigan’s Transportation Assets through Winter Maintenance Best Practices……A Roadmap for the 21st Century

SEMCOG University/Webinar“Winter Road Maintenance:Policy, Practice, and Technology”

Presenter: Mark Cornwell

Salt and Oil....A tale of Two Commodities

* are found below ground* are vital strategic commodities in food and goods and services* have historical ties to Power and Influence* are Natural Resources* can be harmful to Infrastructure and Natural Resources* are essential commodities in Transportation* have negative health impacts* have hidden costs* are experiencing increases in price* are seriously impacting budgets

Both......

.....And Both Require greater efficiency!

Sustainability through Winter Maintenance Best Practices

* Why do we need to reduce salt use?

* How can we do it? What are the tools for success?

* A Proposal to accelerate the learning curve!

Why do we need to reduce salt?

* Because salt pricing has increased nearly 25%

* Because salt has hidden costs that far exceed its purchase price and is compromising our ability to finance a sound transportation system in Michigan

* Current operating budgets are challenged

More importantly…how much will it cost this winter?

Trend line continues upward---2008 was 800,000 tons

2008

800,000

This number reflects only state roads. How much additional is used on County and City roads?

614, 991 Ton Average

“The corrosion and environmental costs pertinent to road salt add up to at least $469 per ton on average, and they are often ignored in formulating highwaywinter maintenance strategies.”

Conjecture based on Research by Xianming Shi, PhD. Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University research

10 year accrued accelerated depreciation—Nearly 1.2 Billion

OK…So what are these “Best Practices”?

* Harnessing the talent that already exists in Michigan!!!

* Good Plowing—The first line of defense for less chemicals

* Operator training

* Improved equipment calibration

* Pre-wetting Salt---”Wetter is better”

* The 30:70 Ratio of liquid to solid

* Material placement—Put the salt where you need it!

* Fine Gradation Salt—Does it have a place in our operations?

* Evaluative Processes—How do we know what is best if we don’t test?* Public Education—How can we teach personal responsibility?

* What is the fate of anti-icing?

Michigan is capable of creating its own guidelines!

While we could adopt this well done, but dated, handbook from Minnesota….

83 Michigan Counties and 100’s of Cities/Towns/Villages….

…. Innovative Thinking Agencies!

...Let’s Harness that Collective Power!

Good Plowing---The key to less Chemical Use!Dilution of Solution equals Re-Freeze!

* How do plowing costs compare to chemicals?

* Would it be cost effective to plow more often?

* What new plowing options exist?

* Weather forecasting--How reliable are the forecasts? What are we going to get--How much and at what time?

Spreader Calibration—Q.C. Procedures and Check Often

* How are we sure spreading equipment is calibrated properly?

* Once calibrated—how can we keep operators from changing your settings?

* On-board systems with AVL/GPS that control material use. Where are we?

* How do we train operators to “Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes”?

Winter Maintenance Training

A recent Salt Institute newsletter indicates that, “Above average ROI on your snow and ice control training”, can be realized by:

* Reducing operational costs* Improving operational efficiency and effectiveness* Sharing proper knowledge and job skills* Improving morale and attitudes* Enhancing organizational and personnel safety* Mitigating tort liability * Enhancing a positive public and media image

“Curtailing training is short sighted and likely to create problems that end up costing more investment in proper training.”, Salt Institute

Who needs training?.........Everybody!

Pre-wetting Salt—”Wetter is Better”

* Traditional methods have stressed 6-10 gallons per ton. 10 gallons/ton at 500#/LM equals 1 “shot glass” of liquid per 100 square feet. While this is superior over dry salt, many agencies across North America are converting to higher liquid to solid ratios.

* Stockpile treatments are limited to the amount of liquid that can be held in the salt. This is typically less than 7 gallons per ton with ASTM spec salt.

* New generation liquid additives for stockpile treatment are touting benefits. Have these claims been proven?

* Pre-wetted materials reduce bounce and scatter, create brine quicker, provide quicker levels of service, and reduce overall salt use.

What is the 30:70 Ratio?

The 30:70 Ratio is a pre-wetting system that combines 30% liquid to 70% solids, by weight.

Example: If the application rate was set 400#/Lane Mile then—

Liquid = 120 poundsSolid = 280 pounds

If sodium chloride brine used as the pre-wetting agent weighsapproximately 10 pounds per gallon and has 2.3 poundsof salt per gallon then we are adding 23 pounds of salt to the solidsalt.

Total actual applied salt per lane mile = 303 pounds or 97 poundsless than the operator thinks.

What is the 30:70 Ratio?

If a ton of salt costs $40.00/ton and the typical application rateis 400 pounds/lane mile (dry salt) then the material cost is $8.00/LM

400#/LM = .20 Tons/LM x $40.00/Ton = $8.00/LM

If the same costs and application rates apply, the 30:70 ratioresults in a material cost of $5.60/LM dry salt + $1.20 brine (12 gallons)for a total of $6.80/LM

280#/LM = .14 Tons/LM x $40.00/Ton = $5.60/LM+ 120# or 12 gallons brine @ $ .10 = $1.20/LM ($5.60 + $1.20 = $6.80)

A $1.20/LM savings in material cost is realized.

Assumptions: $40.00/Ton cost of Salt 400#/LM application rate Salt brine $ .10/gallon

Note: these numbers do not reflect potential savings from bounce and scatter with highly pre-wetted salt.

Who is utilizing the 30:70 ratio, either throughexisting equipment or modifying existing equipment?

Europe—Extensively

Canada

U.S. States, but not exclusive:

MaineNew HampshireVermontMICHIGAN-Counties and CitiesOhioIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinIowaWashingtonUtah

What equipment is using the 30:70 Ratio?

Any omission of other manufacturers product is unintentional

Monroe’s New “Slurry” Spreader

Epoke Sirius SpreaderSchmidt Stratos Spreader

Many agencies are modifyingexisting equipment to deliver higher liquid to solid ratios.

How important is Proper Material Placement?

If we retain more of our road salt on the roadway we improve service levels and reduce salt and associated costs.

How are we doing it?

* High liquid to solid ratio

* Agricultural additives to salt

* Modified chutes and spreading disks

* Centerline drop

* Zero velocity spreading

* Broadcast spreading with material placement capability

* Multiple spinners

How can we better evaluate material placement?

Test Grid Used inDemonstration Projectwith the Minnesota DOT

June 2008

To know what’s best ...we have to test!

How can we better evaluate material placement?

Test Grid Layout in Owatonna, Minnesota—June 2008

Penalty BoxTypical 12’ lane

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going?

Back in the late 90’s Research was conducted on utilization of finegradation salt by Tomas Martinelli, Wisconsin DOT.

ASTM spec salt has been in place for many years. Distribution and storage seem to dictate gradation.

Fine Gradation Salt in the NetherlandsFine Gradation Salt in the Netherlands

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going?

Could we anti-ice with fine gradation salt?

Could we deice some events with fine gradation salt?

Could fine gradation salt be a tool to reduce total salt use?

How much of standard ASTM spec salt is lost?

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going?

Typical ASTM salt Salt not passing thru ¼” hardware cloth

Salt not passing thru 1/8” hardware cloth Salt passing thru ¼” hardware cloth

What is the fate of Anti-icing

Anti-icing, while effective has its challenges:

* Specialized equipment is required

* Some chemicals can cause road slickness

* Rain often precede snow events...materials washed away

* Anti-icing applications can be expensive unless sodium chloride brine is used

* Some chemicals, directly applied, may be deleterious to infrastructure

Evaluative Processes

Only through testing and verification should we advance that which is working!

Through the collaboration of all entities within Michigan, we can drastically shorten the learning curve.

Public Education

Educating the public is essential for advancing winter maintenancebest practices and creates positive public relations.

How can we teach the public that they must exercise a greater degreeof personal responsibility?

How can we convince the public there is “no such thing as a free lunch” when it comes to maintaining a sound Michigan transportation system?

Public Education

The Public needs the facts!

A Proposal to Accelerate Michigan Leadership inWinter Maintenance Best Practices

Illustration taken from Canadian TAC “Synthesis of Best Practices Road Salt Management” September 2003

Concluding Remarks

Is it reasonable to think we could reduce salt use by 50% by 2020?

There are no easy solutions to that question and solutions willrequire funding.

Michiganian’s never back away from a challenge!!

Our economic future is at stake in Michigan and we must step upto the plate in order to assure our future prosperity. Sound wintermaintenance best practices are important to our survival.

In a few years the rest of the country will be looking to us for winter maintenance guidance.

We here in Michigan are LEADERS…not followers!!!

Thank you……

..….QUESTIONS!!!!

Internet links for presentation references:

Larry Sutter, Ph.D., Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI—“The Deleterious Chemical Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete”, Study SD 2002-01http://www.state.sd.us/Applications/HR19ResearchProjects/Projects/SD2002-01_Final_Report_Final.pdfTransportation Association of Canada, “Synthesis of Best Practices, Road Salt Management Plans”http://www.tac-atc.ca/english/pdf/saltplan.PDFClear Roads, Pooled Funds Project CR2005-02, “Calibration Accuracy of Manual and Ground Speed Control Salters”http://www.clearroads.org/files/06-21CalibrationFinalReport.pdfTransportation Research Board, Thomas J. Martinelli, Robert R. Blackburn, “Anti-icing Operations with Pre-wetted Fine Gradation Salt”http://trb.metapress.com/content/2790434155x33h07/Midwest Snow and Ice Grouphttp://rebar.ecn.purdue.edu/snownice/default.aspxThe Use of Road Salts for Highway Winter Maintenance: An Asset Management Perspective. 2005 ITE District 6 Annual Meeting. Kalispell, Montana. July 10-13, 2005xianming_s@coe.montana.edu xianming_s@coe.montana.edu“Minnesota Snow and Ice Control, Field Handbook for Snow Plow Operators”http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/Publications/Handbooks/documents/snowicecontrolhandbook.pdfSalt Institute, “Above average ROI on your snow and ice control training” Summer 2008http://www.saltinstitute.org/publications/shd/shd-summer-2008.pdf