Evaluation and Forecasting of Winter Road Conditions Associated with Blowing Snow for the Wyoming Highway System

This proposed study focuses on low visibility and slushy and icy surface conditions due to blowing snow. Risk-based assessment of wind-related hazards will be implemented using snow transport modeling and wind and surface condition monitoring. This project will leverage the existing wind monitoring system from the previous study for the vehicle blow-over risk estimation. Winter road condition prediction coupled with weather prediction will provide early warning to travelers about upcoming winter road conditions to reduce traffic volume under adverse weather. Thus, this study will help improve the efficiency of snow removal operations promoting earlier road reopening. The project will study select road sections on Interstate 80 between Laramie, Wyoming and Rawlins, WY. The area around Arlington, WY will be selected as one of the key areas. The known winter condition hotspot, Arlington, WY, will be selected as one of the areas. Other road sections with and without snow fence coverages will be chosen based on the distance from the RWIS stations.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $136063
• Contract Numbers:

  RS05222

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Wyoming Department of Transportation

  5300 Bishop Boulevard
  Cheyenne, WY  United States  82009-3340
• Project Managers:

  Spoonemore, Clifford

  Ahlenius, Kathy

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Wyoming, Laramie

  Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
  Biological Science Building
  Laramie, WY  United States  82071-3166
• Principal Investigators:

  Ohara, Noriaki

• Start Date: 20220901
• Expected Completion Date: 20250801
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway safety; Risk assessment; Snow; Visibility; Weather conditions; Wind; Winter maintenance
• Geographic Terms: Wyoming
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01863335
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Wyoming Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: RS05222
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 3 2022 2:21PM