Every municipality deals with infrastructure issues. Concrete and asphalt streets cave and crumble under decades of heavy traffic, particularly where colder winters open potholes and cracks in the streets. Champaign, Ill., population 88,000, sees plenty of ice and snow in … Continue reading →
Forecasts are seldom infallible with unexpected atmospheric shifts changing expectations and plans. One must also factor in microclimates, which can see some areas more affected by winter storms than others. However, imagine having a personalized, real-time weather forecast, not just … Continue reading →
Built in 1964, the Hickman Road Bridge over the Tuolumne River in Stanislaus County, Calif., provides a vital link between the community of Hickman and the city of Waterford. However, since 1997, stakeholders with an interest in the bridge have … Continue reading →
There are a few things that come to mind when thinking about summer in the Midwest: warmer weather, weekends at the lake, camping trips — and roadwork. In fact, Midwesterners often say they have two seasons — winter and construction … Continue reading →
As cities across the East Coast saw record-setting snowfall last winter, salt mines struggled to keep up with the demand for rock salt to clear roadways. The tried-and-true product not only melts the snow, but deices roads and provides a … Continue reading →
A variable advisory speed limit could be an effective tool in reducing the number of collisions and accidents on the road, according to two experts. A VASL is a variation on posted speed limit in which regulatory posted speed limits … Continue reading →
Winter can be a beast, and its snowfall has already made 2014–15 memorable: particularly with snowstorm Knife. The storm dropped approximately 7 feet of snow in the Buffalo area, resulting in commuters being stranded — some for as long as … Continue reading →
The past winter was one for the record books. No one knows this better than Peter Noehammer, engineer and director of transportation services for the Scarborough District of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto is getting its roads back … Continue reading →
A summer’s drive down a dusty gravel road can lead to the quick rolling-up of windows and more than just the temporary inconvenience of coughing. The dust that causes poor-quality air on over half of the unpaved roadways in the … Continue reading →
With the largest firefighting show in the world coming up this month, The Municipal has public safety — particularly firefighting — on the brain. We’ve been intrigued lately by the invasion of wildland urban interface into practically every community in … Continue reading →
De-icing chemicals: A growing threat Motor vehicles face a constant battle against the elements, with one of the most insidious threats being corrosion. In colder climates where snow and ice are prevalent, it’s not uncommon to see traditional road salt … Continue reading →
