In a MnDOT-funded study, researchers evaluated five new pieces of high-potential winter maintenance equipment. Working with field staff in districts, the team found that some pieces were appropriate for real-world use but others had shortcomings. The results will help guide capital investments.
MnDOT is always looking for new and better ways to handle Minnesota winters. This includes putting new technologies to the test to see if they hold up to scrutiny. Will new equipment perform as advertised, for example, or need frequent maintenance?
The study, performed over two winters, revolved around the real-world performance of three types of plow equipment—an underbody scraper, a true-float wing plow, and a two-way reversible plow—and two slurry spreader systems.
Over two winter seasons, researchers evaluated the equipment on the roads around Bemidji. The first winter revealed the need for operational changes and adjustments for some of the equipment. The two-way reversible plow, for example, had issues with snow build-up, making uninterrupted operation nearly impossible. To fix this for the second winter, researchers added a new type of plow blade and changed the plow angle, which led to successful use.
The slurry spreader results were not clear. Although the new equipment performed similarly to the old equipment from an operational standpoint, issues such as excessive weight and height remained unresolved, causing operational challenges. These challenges were not solved by the end of the study.
Based on lessons learned and adjustments made over multiple seasons, MnDOT staff recommended the continued use and acquisition of all three types of plowing equipment. For the slurry spreader systems, the participants could not provide enough certainty to make a solid recommendation. Alternative configurations may hold the key to making this equipment work effectively for MnDOT.
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