Researchers
Bill McCall
Stephen Andrle
About the research
The automated bridge de-icing pilot project is recommended in the Iowa DOT ITS plan. The project involves planning, design, and implementation of an automated bridge de-icing system on the super-elevated sections of Interstate 380 bridges in downtown Cedar Rapids. The ITS plan describes the operational process of alerting Iowa DOT personnel when the temperature of the surface of the bridge deck reaches a certain point and deicing chemicals will be released on the bridge deck and the roadway approaching the bridge. Further, the project includes integrating data from a Road Weather Information System (RWIS) in the decision making process to release chemicals. Phase I will be the initial design phase and Phase II the pilot implementation phase.