North/West Passage member states have processes in place for closing roads and alerting motorists through many different dissemination mechanisms (e.g., traveler information systems, dynamic message signs (DMS), press releases) of closures.
Roads may be physically closed by lowering gates at entrance ramp locations to a freeway. The Minnesota DOT is upgrading the snow gate technology along I-90 from Mankato, MN to the South Dakota border.
However, these road closures are often anticipated hours (sometimes days) in advance through forecasting. With the information member states know about plans for plowing/treating the roads and the potential to close roads, this information and likely impacts could be shared to motorists, truckers, and third-party providers. While North/West Passage states would not likely forecast a road closure, they may forecast a “major impact” to the road. Providing information early enough could enable diversions upstream of the closure, adding more flexibility in alternate interstate route selection by motorists (especially commercial vehicles). Describing these forecasted “major impacts” and information about plowing/treatment plans is not typically done in all states and a coordinated approach with common messaging corridor-wide would be beneficial. Wyoming DOT noted that they forecast some “major impacts,” and this could be the start of a model for others to explore.
Deliverables
- In progress
nwpassage.info 