Office of Maintenance - R/WIS

Information for Drivers

• Check 511 for Road Conditions
• Work Zone Safety

In the Highway Right of Way

• Logo Signs
• Living Snow Fences
• Adopt a Highway

Documents

• Maintenance Manual
• Highway Systems Operations Plan
• 2010-11 Winter At-a-Glance
• Field Guide for Testing Deicing Chemicals
• Flashing Arrow Board Maintenance and Replacement Guidance

Resources for Local Government and Partners

• Maintenance Research
• Maintenance Training
• Maintenance Building Services
• Maintenance Fleet Equipment
• Maintenance State Sign Shop
• Road Weather Information System
• Contracts for Material and Services

Road and Weather Information System

R/WIS includes an automated information system that collects, processes and distributes current and forecasted weather and road surface information. Advanced traveler information systems can provide drivers and fleet operators with R/WIS data including up-to-the-minute warnings about changing conditions. This system will allow highway operations managers to use R/WIS for timely and cost-effective snow plowing and deicing.

In addition to making winter operations more efficient, R/WIS data is used throughout the year in support of Mn/DOT's 511 traveler information system, herbicide applications, pavement marking, incident management, and timing of road maintenance and construction activities.

R/WIS data consists of information from 3 core areas. First is the near real-time surface and atmospheric information provided by 93 remote collection sites; next detailed weather and surface forecast information is added; finally radar displays, and weather information provided from a wide variety of Government, Commercial and University sources is added. Together this information provides the accuracy and detail needed to efficiently operate and maintain the state transportation system.

Although this system is designed primarily for internal use, access to weather and road condition information is available to the public by dialing 511 or logging into www.511mn.org on the Internet.

Mn/DOT is also involved in several other efforts closely related to R/WIS. Information on these groups and activities can be found at:

http://www.aurora-program.org/