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Snow and Ice Control

Publications and Web sites

Local Government Snowplow Salt and Sander Controller Calibration Guide (2 MB PDF)

Minnesota Local Road Research Board, 2009
The purpose of this guide book is to provide easy-to-use steps for calibrating snowplow sander controllers. It is an experience-based guide that captures tips and techniques learned by experienced calibrators. Also includes a Manual Calibration Calculation Worksheet (50 KB XLS)

Need more information?

The Minnesota LTAP Librarian can help you find and obtain LTAP and CTS publications and research, as well as transportation-related materials from other libraries and databases.

Please call 612-624-3646 or e-mail ctslib@umn.edu.

Minnesota Snow and Ice Control: Field Handbook for Snowplow Operators (452 KB PDF)

Minnesota LTAP, 2005
The purpose of this field handbook is to help promote the understanding of the tools, best practices, and limitations for snow and ice control. In addition, it encourages progressive changes in snow and ice control practices that will help you reduce salt/sand use and environmental impacts while meeting the safety and mobility needs of roadway users.

SALT Institute's Snowfighters Training Web site

Contains links to best practices, manuals, and training materials. Also includes a section on Winter Maintenance Training Resources, which contains many basic information documents (and a podcast) about highway snow and ice control from a variety of sources.

Clear Roads Winter Driver Safety Campaign

Clear Roads has initiated a national multimedia winter driving safety campaign.The site contains public safety announcements and other marketing materials, using a standard logo and slogan, "Ice and Snow...Take It Slow."

Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual (982 KB PDF)

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2006
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) sponsored the development of the Winter Parking Lot and Sidewalk Maintenance Manual. It is based on the Minnesota Snow and Ice Control Field Handbook for Snowplow Operators, produced by Minnesota LTAP, as well as on training materials used in an MPCA parking lot winter maintenance training class. The purpose of this manual is to deliver practical advice for improving operating efficiency and reducing environmental impacts to those who manage parking lots and sidewalks.

Salt’s Lasting Impact: Education, proper science key to reducing chemical usage (PDF)

Snow Business, November 2007

Snow and ice control: a best practices review

Office of the Legislative Auditor, State of Minnesota, 1995
This report identifies the "best" methods of plowing snow and removing ice from Minnesota roads.

FHWA Road weather management program: snow & ice

Web site listing state's best practices for snow and ice control, as well as information about chemicals and techniques.

Manual of practice for an effective anti-icing program: a guide for highway winter maintenance personnel

FHWA, 1996.
This manual provides information for successful implementation of an effective highway anti-icing program. It is written to guide the maintenance manager in developing a systematic and efficient practice for maintaining roads in the best conditions possible during a winter storm.

The Minnesota Local Road Research Board's Training for Snow & Ice Control on Gravel Roads, 2003.

The LRRB's Research Implementation Committee, with assistance from SRF Consulting Group, Inc. developed a training workshop to assist local governments with winter maintenance on aggregate roads. The workshop is targeted to maintenance personnel. The materials include PowerPoint slides with instructors notes (2003-23), and a participant workbook (2003-39).

A guide for selecting anti-icing chemicals

University of Iowa, 2001

Storm Water Management Fact Sheet: Minimizing Effects from Highway Deicing (232 KB PDF)

United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1999.

Climatological characterization of snowfall and snow drift in Minnesota (for the design of living snow fences)

University of Minnesota, 2002
Reports on the effectiveness of living snow fences in Minnesota.

Workshops and Events

Videos

A Snowplow—Cool! Video

Minnesota Local Road Research Board, 2001
This video provides 2nd and 3rd grade children with an understanding of the dangers of building snow forts next to the streets, building forts or tunnels with roofs, sliding into the streets and other safety issues around snowplows.

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