Reducing salt and sand use on roadways while achieving optimum winter maintenance are ongoing Maintenance Technology Project initiatives. Improved roadway clearing was investigated in a 2005-2006 study that evaluated alternative plow blade designs.

A standard plow is a scoop with a straight and even steel blade at the bottom. The blade is beveled slightly to help lift snow off the pavement and cast it into the scoop while this works well on new pavement, irregular or damaged pavement and blade wear can leave behind quantities of snow and slush. Recent innovations in blade design and plow methods are helping to address this problem. Black Cat Blades Ltd developed the Joma 6000, a blade made of tungsten carbide inserts within short steel segments. The blades are then encased in a flexible material, allowing each segment to conform better to an uneven pavement profile. The company indicates the rubber-mounted blades result in reduced vibration and noise in the vehicle, an increased product lifespan, and reduced wear on pavement markings.

During the winter of 2005/06, a formal test procedure to examine alternative plow blades was developed. The standard MTO blade (control) and the Joma plow blade (test) underwent studies that tested their durability and effectiveness over different pavement and weather conditions. The test protocol established a test section and a control section, sharing similar road surface, length, and weather and traffic condition. The evaluation determined whether there were any additional winter operational maintenance benefits that would provide incentive for a switch from the standard steel blade. Comparison studies were conducted in Bancroft and Goderich and utilized on-site observations and measurement.

The test provided less of the formal scientific evidence than was intended, but demonstrated that the flexible blade is at least as good as a standard blade under moderate temperature test conditions. MTO has concluded that the flexible blade is an acceptable alternative to the standard steel blade for snowplows.

Standard steel blade composed of a straight steel piece attached to the bottom of the plow

An additional evaluation was conducted with the Viking Two Stage blade in Guelph. Known as the double-bladed plow, the experimental model consists of a standard front steel blade with a smaller trailing blade. The trailing blade, which is independent and hydraulically controlled, has flexible segments designed to clean off loose snow scraped up by the leading blade, and to clear slush that a conventional blade cannot reach. Manufacturers Viking-Cives Group claim the second blade reduces the need for multiple passes and road maintenance (such as salt or sand) thereby achieving significant savings.

The flexible design of the second blade also provides efficient plowing of rutted or frost heaved pavement. Further tests to compare the standard blade to the dual blade are planned for winter 2006/07. A formal comparison will determine whether the technology will reduce salt use, blade wear and overall costs.

MTO will also examine the use of Viking Cive Group's multi-plow trailer, an innovative design developed for use on wide airport runways. Two or more plows fan out from a single vehicle to plow two or more lanes at the same time. This may reduce equipment and operating costs required for a conventional plow convoy operation on multi-lane highways. Future MTO evaluations will determine whether the multi-plow trailer can operate effectively on freeways with ramp lanes, heavy traffic and other complicated features.