Individual paper (pdf - 1.2MB)

In Sapporo, a city with snowier, colder climates than any other in the world, snow removal on roads in winter is an essential measure to support the social economy, and the city spends more than 20 billion yen annually on this. Of this, the cost of transporting and clearing snow accounts for roughly half, but measures to reduce the cost of snow removal and clearance would involve reducing the amount [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.5MB)

Through fruitful collaboration between a research laboratory, a consulting firm, a collaborative association, and its own Natural Hazards Service, the Savoie Department has become a driver of innovation and improvement in avalanche hazard forecasting specifically adapted to the protection of its road network. This pursuit of greater resilience relies on a multimodal operational approach combining: [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 560KB)

Covering a vast northern territory, Québec is exposed to many types of winter weather events that vary in terms of severity and duration. Moreover, as in other jurisdictions, climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of certain natural hazards, thereby making infrastructure more vulnerable and raising the level of risk associated with potential disasters. Like many PIARC members, [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 417KB)

In a research project, a simple method for life cycle assessment of winter road maintenance was developed and made available to interested parties in the form of an intuitive Excel tool. The road winter service considered in the project included winter service on out-of-town roads, especially motorways and federal highways. In the first step of the project, life cycle assessment studies on winter [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 2.2MB)

Living snow fences (LSFs) have been installed since 1976 on roads in Hokkaido, northern Japan, to mitigate blowing snow, and they have reduced road traffic problems, such as snowdrifts and poor visibility. LSFs in Hokkaido extended for approximately 140 km as of 2022. In addition to their primary purpose, these fences need to be evaluated comprehensively in terms of their role in realizing a sustainable [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 543KB)

Remote strategic highway routes in rural areas combined with winter conditions produce safety challenges for road users, operators and maintainers. In severe weather conditions such as snow, drivers are exposed to increased risk which may result in loss of control collisions or drivers making unsafe or abortive journeys in the event of a route closure. With the effects of climate change, the frequency [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 980KB)

Skid resistance is a key factor in road safety. Recently, Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc (ATMB) noticed a sudden loss of grip on certain sections of its network, leading to an increase in accidents. Following this observation, ATMB launched a research programme to identify and study the mechanisms and factors likely to contribute to this loss of grip. The ATMB network, located in mountainous areas, [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.3MB)

With nearly 30,000 tourist beds, Tignes is one of the largest ski resorts in Savoie, served by a single departmental road, the maintenance and opening of which is therefore of major importance throughout the winter season. This road crosses various avalanche slopes at a substantial altitude of nearly 2,000 metres. Various techniques have been used for decades to ensure safety against snow hazards: [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 981KB)

Introduction The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 % from its activities by 2030. Winter maintenance is a significant contributor to emissions and NPRA wants to evaluate the suitability of electric trucks for winter maintenance operations. The first test The initial tests were conducted in February 2024 over a month-long period on a main road through [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 573KB)

Freezing precipitation In France, one of the effects of climate change is an increase in episodes of freezing precipitation. Rising sea and oceans temperatures leads to the presence of relatively warm, humid air masses which, when they meet cold air masses from the north, produce precipitation in the form of supercooled rain at the interface. These drops of liquid water at negative temperatures [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 717KB)

In Western Europe, and particularly in France, climate change is leading to a rise in temperatures and a slight increase in winter rainfall, with the following consequences: • on the plains, a reduction in the frequency of snowfall and the occurrence of black ice • in the mountains, a change in the type of snow, with potentially more avalanches and more frequent freeze-thaw phenomena [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.3MB)

At the foot of Mont Blanc, the French entrance to the Mont Blanc Tunnel is subject to special surveillance in winter, including a level of vigilance on avalanche risk that is unique in France for a highway operator. In fact, the last laces of the national road RN205 leading to the French entrance are located under five avalanche paths on the north face below the Aiguille du Midi. This is the role [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.6MB)

A major challenge for the survival of territories and the continuity of international economic exchanges. On August 27, 2023, a massive landslide on the La Praz cliff caused a total shutdown of traffic on the RD 1006, the Maurienne freeway and the adjoining railroad line. Once motorway traffic had been re-established, secured by a 10 m-high protective screen of shipping containers, snow clearance [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 873KB)

Climate change is profoundly affecting Winter Service (WS) operations, necessitating a comprehensive strategy that balances operational efficiency with environmental sustainability. As winters become more unpredictable, characterized by heavier snowfall, ice storms, and fluctuating temperatures, WS organizations must adapt their methodologies to effectively tackle these challenges. A key focus area [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 6.8MB)

In the imposing Bolivian Andes, the Oruro - Confital highway, at 3,700 meters above sea level, faces serious challenges during the winter season due to severe weather conditions. The accumulation of snow or ice hinders the transit of heavy vehicles, increasing the risk of landslides and accidents. Hail storms not only damage vehicles, but also generate slippery surfaces, increasing the danger of the [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.4MB)

We live in a time where the climate is changing, and many of these changes occur during wintertime. This may mean a warmer climate than before, but also more instances of extreme weather. When the climate gets warmer, it can lead to more occurrences of temperature fluctuations around zero degrees, and thus more instances of slippery roads. In southern Sweden, there have long been constant fluctuations [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.7MB)

Climate change is increasingly altering temperature patterns, leading to significant shifts in freeze-thaw cycles that impact the structural performance of pavement infrastructure. In cold regions such as Alberta, the rise in temperatures especially during late winter and early spring has extended and disrupted traditional freeze-thaw periods. These variations directly influence the timing and application [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 597KB)

Ensuring the viability of the network whatever the weather conditions, particularly during winter episodes, is an essential objective for all road infrastructure managers. However, at a time when reducing our carbon footprint, limiting the consumption of natural resources and protecting the environment are becoming major challenges for society, it is important to consider the environmental impact [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.1MB)

The federal trunk roads and state roads in Germany are maintained by over 700 motorway and road operation centres in order to ensure road safety and the functionality of the road network. Due to the age structure of the road operation centres, there is a high demand for the modernisation of existing buildings / infrastructure and the construction of new road operation centres, both now and in the [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 1.3MB)

Regardless of the training efforts and provided guidelines the winter maintenance staff has the last decision in adapting general strategies to the observed situation on the road, leading to substantial deviations in salt usage and road condition. However, for any systematic improvement, an objective basis for a comparison of the winter maintenance performance is needed that accounts for regional [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 494KB)

The UK’s third Climate Change Risk Assessment highlights distribution networks (such as transport) as a key risk area for immediate action. It cautions that flooding, heat, erosion, slope failure and extreme weather will increase under future climate change, impacting the fabric and function of transportation infrastructure, with ageing assets being particularly vulnerable. Though there is a lack [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 880KB)

The Département du Doubs in France is responsible of maintaining a 3700?km road network. Elevation ranges from 200 to 1500?m and contributes to the heterogeneity in climate conditions including weather during the winter season. Winter services’ organisation is outlined in a winter service organization file (Document d’Organisation de la Viabilité Hivernale, DOVH) which describes different levels [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 7.8MB)

According to the Swiss government's energy strategy, the entire fleet of vehicles used for operational maintenance on Switzerland's national highways must be decarbonised by 2040. Territorial Unit VI, which is responsible on behalf of FEDRO for the operational maintenance (winter service, cleaning, maintenance of green areas, operational and safety installations) of the national highways in eastern [...]

Individual paper (pdf - 2.0MB)

Nowadays, the climate change due to global warming is changing the countermeasure against disaster management in Winter. NEXCO East is the expressway company who engaged in expressway business in Eastern Japan, including heavy snow area. Our past policy we had is to try to keep the road open as long as possible in winter service. This one brought that 2,100 vehicles were stranded on Kanetsu Expressway [...]