Why This Is Important

Idaho travelers need safe and reliable highways during winter storms.  Preventing the accumulation of snow and ice or quickly removing it from highways increases safety, mobility, and improves commerce.

How We Measure It

Idaho's highways are broken down into hundreds of sections.  Nearly half of these highway sections, including the most heavily traveled corridors, have automated roadway condition sensors and weather information stations located where travel is deemed to be highly impacted by winter storms--high elevation summits, steep grades, bridge overpasses, etc.  This measure tracks the percent of time those highway sections with automated sensors and weather information stations are clear of ice and snow during winter storms.

What We're Doing About It

ITD is using this data from the automated roadway condition sensors and weather information stations to continuously improve the effectiveness of its winter maintenance efforts across the state.  The Department accomplishes this by customizing snowplowing practices and de-icing treatments for all sections of Idaho highways.