Engineering Process | Preliminary Design
Snow: Blowing and Drifting Snow Control
Purpose
Blowing and drifting snow on Minnesota’s roadways affects transportation efficiency and safety. While there are 9 factors which influence winter severity-precipitation type, air temperature, road temperature, cloud cover, dew point, frost, surface pressure, wind speed, and blowing snow; only 2 of those factors-wind speed & blowing snow can be managed or made worse by our actions. Deploying preventative blowing snow control measures, such as grading, structural snow fences, and living snow fences, manages the wind to minimize the negative impacts blowing and drifting snow on our highways helping Minnesota’s economy and the well-being of its citizens.
When to use this subject
Blowing and drifting snow control needs to be addressed in project documentation if the project is located on a section of roadway that the District has identified as a snow trap problem. Call your District Maintenance staff for information about existing snow trap problems or visit the Snow Trap Inventory Google earth map (This content is available only from computers on MnDOT's internal network).
Ensure that all mitigation commitments are in the plans, specifications, and estimate (PS&E) package for all Class I, II, and III actions (as appropriate) during detail design.
How this subject fits into the overall project development process
Most of this work will occur during pre-design based on the results of the blowing snow control study.
To request a blowing snow control study submit your request.
For specific process information, see the process, other guidance pages and/or contact the individuals on the contacts page.
Organizations involved
- MnDOT:
- Office of Land Management
- Project Managers
- District Design
- District Maintenance
- Blowing Snow Control Shared Services Unit
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (only if agricultural land is going to be acquired)
- USDA Farm Services Agency (only if agricultural land is going to be acquired)
- Soil and Water Conservation Districts (only if agricultural land is going to be acquired)