Improved User Experience and Scientific Understanding of Anti-Icing and Pre-Wetting for Winter Roadway Maintenance in North America

In recent years, North American highway agencies have increasingly adopted innovative snow and ice control strategies, including anti-icing and pre-wetting practices. In 2005, to synthesize the benefits and challenges of implementing such strategies, a national survey was conducted. However, insufficient information and limited understanding were found to account for their low usage at that time. A decade later, research is needed to document improved user experience and scientific understanding on these strategies, which can be used in a comparative manner. Through a follow-up survey launched in April 2014 with the same focus as the 2005 survey, a contrastive synthesis is presented which summarizes changes in the evolution of anti-icing and pre-wetting over the past decade, including the implementation of these snow and ice control strategies, related costs, environmental concerns, corrosion, and community response. The research demonstrates the elevated and indispensable status of anti-icing and pre-wetting strategies in current winter roadway maintenance activities, compared with their limited use ten years ago. The research further supports their positive effects on economic, environmental and social goals, which is attributable to the proactive nature and environmentally responsible performance of anti-icing and pre-wetting. Finally, gaps in current operations and the need for further research are discussed.