Contacts
- John Bray
Special Assistant to the District Engineer
218-725-2708
- Duane Hill, PE
Mn/DOT District 1
Assistant District Engineer for Maintenance Operations
218-725-2707
Location
Minnesota Department of
Transportation
1123 Mesaba Ave.
Duluth, MN 55811
218-725-2800
Additional Information
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Northeastern Minnesota motorists to watch out for black ice
DULUTH, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Transportation strongly urges drivers in the Arrowhead Region to be alert for "black ice", which can rapidly develop during cold temperatures, especially in the early morning hours.
Black ice is really invisible ice. It is almost totally transparent and can easily catch drivers off-guard.
It quickly forms in cold weather when the air temperature is just slightly warmer than the pavement, which causes moisture to rapidly freeze, creating a very thin layer of ice on the roadway.
Black ice can form on heavily congested highways from auto exhaust emissions, tire friction and moisture vapors given off by industries located adjacent to the highway.
In addition, black ice often forms on roadways in shaded areas, near lakes and rivers, in tunnels, and on overpasses.
Although salt and sand can help minimize the effects of black ice, road salt loses its effectiveness at temperatures lower than 15 degrees.
According to Mn/DOT, motorists can increase their personal margin of safety by observing the following tips:
- Be aware that black ice is almost invisible. It can form on asphalt or concrete pavements.
- Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and tunnels and in the early morning when the air temperature is rising faster than the pavement temperature.
- Use extreme care while driving on suspicious roadways. Applying brakes on ice can easily cause a vehicle to skid.
- Do not use cruise control during winter driving conditions.
- Use a safe speed for winter driving conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit.
- Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
- Refrain from using a cell phone while driving, and remember that texting is prohibited while driving in Minnesota.
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