Dec. 7, 2000--
You've probably seen the signs along the highway which say, "Bridges may be icy."
In the winter, bridge decks tend to get more slippery than other parts of the highway.
Well, UDOT has unveiled a system that will make those bridges "less icy."
Keith McCord reports.
It works kind of like your lawn sprinkler system. But in this case, when the water on the road freezes, a special chemical is sprayed on automatically.
The next time you're driving on I-215, at Knudson's Corner and you see it, no, you're not imagining it.
Nozzles in the northbound lanes are spraying a chemical that will melt snow and ice.
Sam Sherman/UDOT: "THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AREA HERE ON KNUDSEN CORNER. WE'VE HAD, IN A THREE YEAR PERIOD, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 62 % OF THE ACCIDENTS ARE SNOW AND ICE RELATED."
The system works like this:
Underneath the bridge deck, there's a reservoir filled with a special de-icing solution. There are sensors in the lanes above, and when they determine that water is turning to ice, the nine nozzles automatically start spraying.
"AND APPROXIMATELY EIGHT GALLONS IS PUT DOWN THERE, AND THAT WILL KEEP ICE FROM FORMING, AND MAINTAIN A TRACTION SURFACE FOR THE VEHICLES."
Besides the spraying system, this section of the bridge is also covered with a rough texture material, also designed to improve traction.
This system is new to Utah, and is only being used in a handfull of other states. But, in areas where bridge ice is a problem, it seems to be working.
"THE PENNSYLVANIA D.O.T. HAS INSTALLED THREE OF THESE SYSTEMS. AND THE YEAR THAT THEY HAD THEIR'S IN PLACE, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS ON THE THREE STRUCTURES. SO I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF HOW EFFECTIVE A SYSTEM LIKE THIS WILL BE."
This is the only bridge in Utah that is equipped with this system. UDOT will evaluate it this winter to see how it works, then will consider putting it on other bridges in the future.
