Operations

• TRL staff possess many years of highway authority experience, ranging from the testing of de-icers to key skills associated with maintenance management. Staff are available with experience of the development, implementation and monitoring of highway maintenance policies, practices and procedures, including winter maintenance. In addition, TRL staff have experience of monitoring the efficiency of winter maintenance operations against appropriate budget controls.
• We've extensive experience in authoring media releases relating to winter service, particularly in relation to operators needing to respond to difficult situations or public criticism.
• TRL has determined salt distribution profiles of salt spreaders for local authorities and the Highways Agency, including the assessment of spreader performance of the Highways Agency's new winter fleet.

Research

Our recent and ongoing research covers:

• the performance of salt spreaders
• the effect of trafficking on residual salt levels
• the performance of sodium chloride-based de-icers, and alternative de-icers
• the use, economics and performance of pre-wetted salt and dry salt treated with additives
• the influence of climatic conditions on the ability of sodium chloride-based de-icers to go into solution
• the effect of salt grading on the performance of de-icers
• problems associated with corrosion of structures
• the use of inhibitors in preventing corrosion
• the performance of alternative de-icers to rock salt
• the effect of de-icers on skid resistance
• precautionary treatments for different surfacings
• laboratory testing of corrosion inhibitor chemicals
• value for money of winter maintenance - cost-benefit
• winter service of footways and cycleways
• winter service at railway stations
• de-icing in traffic-calmed areas
• residual salt measurement techniques
• the performance of freezing-point sensor systems.

Weather and Climate

• TRL has meteorological and climatological expertise and staff experienced in winter maintenance decision-making processes and conventions. This expertise encompasses weather prediction systems and forecasting issues that have been used to good effect in benchmarking weather service providers.
• TRL has been extensively involved in the development of a new protocol for weather data provision to those responsible for site operations.
• We developed a GIS based management information system (for managing data regarding road weather stations, forecast sites and major UK winter maintenance equipment. This was in association with Birmingham University and based on Mapinfo GIS integrated with digitised O.S. road network maps.

Liability and Risk Management

• TRL has conducted risk management reviews of winter maintenance policies and operations on behalf of highway authorities throughout England and Scotland. These reviews are detailed and comprehensive, ranging from the development and implementation of policy through to site-based operations.
• TRL has acted as an expert witness in several hundred winter maintenance-related highways liability cases.
• TRL has conducted liability awareness seminars for local authorities.

Links with Key Customer and Research Groups

• TRL has strong links with the key organisations involved in the winter maintenance industry. These range from material and equipment suppliers through to weather forecast providers as well as legal organisations and the police.
• TRL has also developed a test protocol and has carried out tests on road surface sensor systems for national and international suppliers.
• TRL is recognised in the UK as the key provider of research, development and consultancy services for all aspects of winter maintenance operations. Services have been delivered for a number of high-profile customers (including, in conjunction with our partners Halcrow, the Highways Agency).
• TRL is the research contractor for the National Winter Service Research Group, which co-ordinates specific research for the four national governments of the UK, highway authorities, term contractors, road operators, consultants and other organisations interested in winter maintenance.
• TRL contributes to national technical journals and winter maintenance conferences, presenting details of innovative research projects, often on behalf of its key customer groups.
• TRL has produced numerous research reports for major customers, many of which have been accepted as the benchmark for winter maintenance operations.
• In terms of its links with EU and overseas customers and research groups, TRL has a breadth of international experience. TRL has been involved in major EU projects; for example, TRL held the Chair of the European Commission Management Committee for COST 344, which examined improvements to snow and ice control on European roads and bridges, and has provided input to the US Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) on winter maintenance and its Aurora Program.

Central and Local Government

TRL has strong links with local and central government in many regions, particularly in relation to the following:

• the provision of expert advice on innovative winter maintenance technologies
• the provision of expert advice on winter service strategies
• salt-spreading trials for local authorities
• advice on codes and specifications and the provision of guidance including best practice guides.

If you're interested in learning more about the topics covered in this section, or you can't find what you're looking for and would like to talk to someone in detail about a specific topic, please complete the enquiry form at the foot of this page - one of our experts will contact you as soon as possible.