Craig Tidball Winter Storm Fern is expected to wreak havoc this weekend, with a huge portion of the United States from the mid-south to the mid-north bracing for snow, ice, sleet, and more snow.
For civil engineers, of course, that means it’s “go” time.
Time to make infrastructure as resilient as possible and keep communities safe in the face of extreme weather.
Civil Engineering Source checked in with a few civil engineers this week across the country as they prepare for Fern.
What’s your biggest infrastructure concern/worst case to manage as you look ahead to a potential storm like this?
Darren T. Olson, P.E., BC.WRE, M.ASCE, vice president and department head for water resources at Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Rosemont, Illinois:
“Our infrastructure is a system of systems, and the different categories of infrastructure are very much reliant on one another. So, when we look at a storm like this, our infrastructure as a whole at times is only as resilient as its weakest link.”
Jason Baker, M.ASCE, director and assistant chief engineer of Region 4, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Jackson, Tennessee:
“When we look ahead to a potential winter storm like this, our biggest infrastructure concern is ice, especially when temperatures hover right around freezing.
“Ice can form quickly and often invisibly, particularly on bridges, overpasses, ramps, hills, and shaded areas. That’s where we tend to see the most dangerous conditions and the highest risk for crashes.
“A worst-case scenario isn’t just heavy snow, but extended periods of freezing rain or refreezing overnight, which can undo treatment efforts and require crews to continuously retreat roads. When ice is present, our crews often pull double duty, responding to fallen trees, assisting partners with downed power lines and damaged utility poles, and working to clear blocked roads – all while continuing to maintain and treat the roadways.
“Our priority is always the safety of motorists and that of our employees. But our focus is keeping interstates, major state routes, and critical connections as safe and passable as possible so emergency responders and essential travel can continue.”
How do you approach the lead-up to a storm like this? Are there proactive things you can do this week in advance?
Michael Fazio, P.E., M.ASCE, city engineer for the City of Bluffdale, Utah, and member of ASCE’s Government Engineers Council:
“Experience can provide good guidance in preparing for storms like this. Principally, the infrastructure must be designed to meet the stresses that a storm like this can put on the various systems, such as drainage, transportation, power, and other utilities that are affected by the temperature drop and precipitation intensity.
“In most of these cases, we are prepared to face the challenges. It is part of our work, to understand and prepare for events like this.”
Jason Baker, Tennessee Department of Transportation:
“Our approach to a storm like this starts days in advance with our crews preparing equipment, staging trucks, and replenishing salt and brine supplies across the state. One of the most important proactive steps we can take is pretreating roads with salt brine before precipitation begins. That helps prevent ice from bonding to the pavement and makes plowing and treatment much more effective once the storm arrives. We’re also closely monitoring weather conditions and adjusting crew schedules so we’re ready to respond around the clock if needed.
“At the same time, we’re communicating with the public, because staying off the roads during the worst conditions is one of the biggest ways people can help us do our job safely and efficiently.”
Are there new processes, technologies, or ideas you can use this year that maybe you didn’t have at your disposal a few years ago?
Jason Baker, Tennessee Department of Transportation:
“Each year, we continue to refine how we respond to winter weather. We’re using more targeted and strategic pretreatment methods than we did years ago, supported by better forecasting and real-time road condition monitoring. Our logistics and supply management have improved as well, allowing us to position materials where they’re most likely to be needed and replenish them more quickly.
“We’re also relying more heavily on technology and communication tools like TDOT SmartWay to give drivers real-time information about road conditions. All of that helps us be more proactive, more flexible, and ultimately more effective in managing winter weather and keeping Tennessee moving as safely as possible.”
Check out the latest episode of the ASCE Plot Points podcast about winter-weather-proofing your infrastructure from the start.
