Dresbach, Minnesota, United States
Winter maintenance managers in several Mn/DOT Districts have installed fixed winter maintenance systems on curved and super elevated bridge decks and other roadway facilities prone to slippery roadway conditions. On TH61 in Dresbach, an automatic bridge de-icing system was installed. The system, which was installed at a cost of $25,000, uses a 200-gallon chemical storage tank, a pump delivery system, a small housing for the tank mechanical equipment, and a network of sprayer nozzles designed to reduce icing on the bridge deck and bridge approaches. The system can be activated manually, or remotely using a phone line. Annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs are about $2,000. The expected life of the system is 12 years.
Automated Bridge Deicers in Minnesota (TH61 at Dresbach)
System cost: $25,000 (1998). Annual O&M cost: $2,000 (1998).