Executive Summary

Executive Summary2003-2004 Snow and Ice

Materials, equipment and labor were consumed to meet Department Target Regain Times for the five maintenance roadway classes: Super Commuter 1 to 3 hours, Urban Commuter 2 to 5 hours, Rural Commuter 6 to 9 hours, Primary 6 to 12 hours and Secondary 9 to 36 hours. These times are measured from the end of a storm event to the time “bare lanes” are regained.

The bare lane criterion was established using customer market research which determined that drivers felt comfortable maintaining posted speeds when the driving lane were clear, even though the center line and edge lines were covered with small amounts of snow.

Additional labor, equipment and materials were used to attain bare “pavement” where all snow and ice were removed from all driving surfaces and pavement markings and to complete storm cleanup. District work plans addressed the procedures for meeting these goals.

ITEMS QUANTITIES $FY 2004

Snowfall for season 66.3 in. (10 yr. Avg. 58.6)

Number of lane miles 30,481

Statewide salt usage 230,918 tons $7,964,098

Statewide sand usage 111,210 tons $781,662

Statewide brine usage 1,505,435 gallons $131,318

Total Material Costs $8,877,078

Labor Costs (Regular and Overtime) $6,934,619

Equipment Costs $16,588,851

Statewide Average for Labor, Equipment and Material Costs Per Lane Mile $1,093.34

Sand & Chemical Use

Avg. Regain Times

1 12.2 8.7 2.3 28.7 5.0 11.82 7.0 5.3 n/a 9.0 3.0 6.3

3A 12.0 10.3 n/a 17.3 9.8 11.03B 7.8 3.9 2.2 10.6 2.8 3.73 11.3 7.0 2.2 13.5 4.5 6.94 10.0 6.6 n/a 14.8 4.6 8.3

Metro n/a 2.1 2.0 n/a 2.3 2.16E 8.7 6.8 2.9 9.2 6.0 7.06W 11.0 8.4 4.0 n/a 7.5 8.26 9.5 7.5 3.6 9.2 6.8 7.6

7E 10.1 8.4 n/a 16.7 6.2 8.67W 4.6 4.4 n/a 5.5 2.5 4.17 7.0 6.3 n/a 11.7 4.2 6.28 7.8 6.7 n/a 8.5 4.6 7.3

Statewide 9.2 7.0 2.2 18.1 5.0 7.8

1 $21.89 $36.50 $116.94 $16.75 $40.49 $30.142 $26.36 $26.34 n/a $28.51 $48.33 $27.58

3A $27.24 $30.86 n/a $26.10 $31.92 $29.123B $19.45 $37.27 $59.71 $27.12 $47.22 $42.7534 $21.75 $24.35 n/a $20.87 $32.73 $24.94

Metro n/a $34.53 $89.12 n/a $74.49 $80.356E $29.58 $35.81 $45.47 $29.55 $44.48 $35.996W $28.76 $42.92 $47.97 n/a $51.85 $44.306

7E $48.45 $53.81 n/a $40.40 $76.93 $56.487W $40.23 $56.39 n/a $55.06 $49.02 $51.3278 $31.25 $37.41 n/a $26.77 $97.50 $34.37

Statewide $26.67 $35.96 $112.93 $25.45 $50.26 $42.05

*Road classifications not included in districts are indicated by "n/a".

Average Labor, Equipment and Material Costs Per Lane Mile By Service Level Per Event, 2003-2004

District Primary Rural Commuter Super Commuter Secondary Urban Commuter All Service Levels Average

All Service Levels AverageUrban Commuter

Average Service Level Regain Times, 2003-2004

District Primary Rural Commuter Super Commuter Secondary

Adj. Usage Report

Adjusted Winter Maintenance Material Usage Report 2003-2004

Salt Usage (Tons) Sand Usage (Tons) Brine (Gallons)Magnesium Chloride

(Gallons)

District 1 35,276 32,160 229,436 135,419

District 2 15,361 17,337 67,038 3,864

District 3A 9,453 1,459 68,896

District 3B 17,985 4,497 244,303

District 4 15,191 11,042 193,520

Metro 80,000 3,000 8,000 31,500

District 6E 15,329 17,488 249,801

District 6W 16,274 1,687 82,683

District 7E 8,159 2,002 96,839

District 7W 6,609 8,226 108,517 8,500

District 8 10,085 13,418 133,387

Statewide

Additional Materials Used:

Metro: 11,000 gallons Potassium Acetate

District 6W9,000 gallons Liquid Corn Salt (LCS)

District 41,500 gallons Gemo Melt M

Customer Satisfaction

Statewide Compare

Notes: See District Summaries

Statewide

Notes: See Executive Summary

District 1

Notes: Tim

Sheehy

District 1 Comments

District 1, Tim Sheehy

The year was very snowy, 106" (60" last year) of snow was recorded in Duluth making it the 5th snowiest winter since the weather service began keeping records. We had 39 events this year and were in snow and ice operations 99 days (not including cleanup or stockpiling) which accounted for 33,212 regular hours and 8,684 overtime hours.

We used:

35,276 tons of salt,

32,160 tons of sand,

229,436 gallons of brine and

135,419 gallons of MaCl.

January was the busiest month with district crews working 27 days out of 31 in snow and ice removal.

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District 2

Notes: Dave

Dalager

District 2 Comments

District 2, Dave Dalager

Total snowfall for the NW Dist 2 was 59.5 inches. Chemical usage was up by 30% over last season due to types of events. Overtime was also up from last season. Lots of events caused by blowing snow sticking to the road surface in Feb. and March. This was not a severe winter by any means, however was significantly more severe than recent seasons. Potholes are abundant this Spring because of all the freeze-thaw cycles.

 

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District 3

District 3A

Notes:Lee

Purdham

District 3A Comments

District 3A, Lee Purdham

The average snowfall for maintenance area 3A in March was nine inches. Average for this season so far is seventy inches. Average number of events for March was six. Two of the events included freezing rain. Average number of events so far for this season is twenty-five. Total material and labor usage for the season so far under activity 2406 is:Salt 9,453 tonsSand 1,459 tonsSalt Brine 68,896 gallonsRegular labor hours 11,235 Overtime hours 1,605. 

 

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District 3B

Notes:Randy

Reznicek

District 3B Comments

District 3B, Randy Reznicek

This was more of a normal winter for 3B with a mixture of wet snow, Alberta clippers, freezing drizzle, trace events and wind for drifting problems. 

November started our winter with snow events scattered throughout the month along with some wind and drifting events. December followed with more events, most of which were the trace to 2 inch variety and one event with some significant snow. January started with small events and finished the month with a couple of good snowfall events that ranged throughout 3B in the 4 to 8 inch range. February brought several accumulating snow and ice events throughout the month. March came with three normal events with snow and a couple of minor events in the first week and a half and then winter just faded away quickly!

Salt Usage: 17,985 tonsSand Usage: 4,497 tonsBrine Usage: 244,303 gallonsTotal Events: 28Early Call-Ins: 29 Late Splits: 20Weekend Callouts: 14Snowfall for the Season: 50.3 inchesRegular Hours to Plowing & Sanding: 23,337 hrs ($440,491)OT Hours to Plowing & Sanding: 4,359 hrs ($123,875)

Average Regain Time Super Commuter: 2.2 hrs Close

District 4

Notes:Dean Olson

District 4 Comments

District 4, Dean Olson

Snowfall was 84 inches in the northern part of the District 4 and less in the far south part of the District. The average number of events is 29 for the season. Material usage: Salt ------- 15,191 Ton for the seasonSand ------ 11,042 ton for the seasonSalt Brine - 193,520 gallons for the seasonGemo melt M - 1,500 gallons for the season Labor:Regular hours ----- 24,445 hoursOver time hours -- 2,689 hours Average regain time for District 4 -- 8.3  

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District 6

District 6E

Notes:Brian

Wolfgram

District 6E Comments

District 6E, Brian Wolfgram

The 2003-2004 snow and ice season started out warmer than normal and dry. Snow started falling in December and colder temperatures in January. The last week in January and the first two weeks of February was our busiest time. During those 3 weeks, 16 days out of 21 were committed to regaining bare lanes with nearly 2 feet of snow falling. Overall 2003-2004 snow and ice season was normal. Data for the year: Salt usage - 15,329 tonsSand usage - 17,488 tonsBrine usage - 249,801 gallonsTotal Events - 33A shift splits - 24B shift splits - 18Days committed to regaining bare lanes - 53 (40 weekdays - 11 weekend days - 2 holidays)First event Nov. 3rd 2003 - last event March 18th, 2004 Snowfall for the year - 48.4 inchesHours charged to plow routes - 12,600 regular hours, 3,773 overtime hours

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District 6W

Notes: WesleySmith

District 6W Comments

District 6W, Wesley Smith

Operations data for the year:27 events, 38.5 inches of snowWe incorporated liquid corn salt (LCS) into our stock pile set up @ Austin & Faribault. We used 9,000 gallons costing $ 12,150 total for the season It looks very promising and we intend to use it at both locations again this coming season, with the testing not completed I'm reluctant to wholesale it area-wide, if next season is a traditional winter we will have a good sense of what LCS can do for us in treating or stock piles.LCS was used as an anti-icing chemical and gave us comparable results to using salt brine. One benefit we did see as the road dried off there was no visible dust as we have seen in areas using salt brine and yet the LCS had the same residual effect as salt brine days later. 

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District 7

District 7E

Notes:Tony

Desantiago

District 7E Comments

District 7E, Anthony Desantiago

Had a total 3.6 inches in the Mankato Area, bringing the total to 42 inches for the season. The southern part of the district had around 5" of snow. We only had one event for the month of March for a season total of 16. A fairly quiet month for our area.

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District 7W

Notes:Tom

Zimmerman

District 7W Comments

District 7W, Thomas Zimmerman

The total number of events this year averaged across the area is now at 23. Total snowfall for the winter is around 60". Early in the winter, our events were typically snow with warm temperatures and wind. This pattern continued through most of January. By the end of January and into early February, the temperatures were very cold. By the middle to end of March, most of the winter weather had ended with almost no snow and ice operations in April. As shown below, our numbers are higher in all categories based on our historical averages. Our overtime usage in comparison to the number of regular hours used shows the commitment to reducing overtime if possible. We were able to do this with more frequent splitting of shifts and because there were a limited number of snow events that caused us to work weekends and holidays. You may notice that the number of events typically are low in this area. This is primarily due to the winds increasing the durations of the events that we do have. Over the past three seasons, the comparison of the duration of the events is shown below. Winter of: 2001/2002 2002/2003 2003/2004===========================================================================# of Events 16 16 23Average duration inhours per event 12.93 hours 8.35 hours 25.48 hours

Season Totals: 2003/2004 Historical Averages===========================================================================Snow Fall 60" 48"Number of Events 23 16Regular Hours 13,400 9,330Overtime Used 3,657 3,484Mixed Winter Sand 8,226 Tons 8,562 TonsSalt 6,609 Tons 5,597 TonsBrine 108,517 Gallons 41,792 Gallons

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District 8

Notes:Jeff

Butson

District 8 CommentsDistrict 8, Jeff Butson

There were no snow events in April. So the season had 23 events with 45" of snow. Used magnesium chloride as an anti icing chemical in the Willmar area. Treated all the bridges on the TH 71 bypass. Also used salt brine in many truck stations on bridges and their highways thru town. Activity 2406 Season TotalsSalt: 10,085 TonSand: 13,418 TonBrine: 133,387 GallonsMagnesium Chloride: 2000 Gallons

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Metro

Notes: Norm

Ashfeld

Metro Comments

Metro, Norm Ashfeld

The 03-04 snow and ice season for the Metro District started on November 2nd and ended for most parts on March 16th. We have not had any measurable snow since March 16th. Metro District received 66.3" of snow in 26 events. We used approximately 80,000 tons salt, 3,000 tons of sand, 11,000 gallons of Potassium Acetate, 8,000 gallons of salt brine, and 31,500 gallons of magnesium chloride for anti-icing efforts. Metro consumed 104,653 labor hours of which approx. 30% were in overtime hours.  The Metro District used the RWIS system quite extensively this past winter season. It provided us with some valuable information as we track the beginning of a storm so we can predict when we should have our personnel on duty. The problems we experienced with the RWIS system this past season included some communication problems between the field RPU's and the server, mostly with information updating. 

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Minnesota

Twin Cities – Metro Area http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/

Willmar 8 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d8/

Mankato 7 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d7/

Rochester 6 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d6/

Detroit Lakes 4 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d4/

Brainerd 3 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/

Duluth 1 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/

Bemidji 2 http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d2/

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By Type of Road