Minnesota Department of Transportation snowplow crews have long fought a continuous battle against harsh winter conditions, which can drop upwards of a foot of snow, creating unsafe travel conditions and sometimes forcing the closure of highways. To control blowing and drifting snow, Minnesota DOT’s Snow Fence Program deployed snow fences and redesigned roads and ditches using a corridor approach on Interstate 94, US Highway 10, US Highway 52, and US Highway 14. Costing $4 million, this snow fence program proved effective along a two-mile stretch of I-94, where crashes dropped significantly. The fences saved $100,000 in operations by reducing plowing and salt use by 50 percent, also easing the demand on emergency services. Controlling blowing snow enhances Minnesota roadways during winter by improving access to goods and services, boosting emergency response, and reducing freight delays. It also helps prevent interstate closures, minimizes exposure of emergency responders to severe weather, and lowers the incidence of weather-related crashes and stranded vehicles, significantly improving safety.
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