Abstract Manager

With climate change, mid-winter thaws caused by milder winters are expected to increase over the next decade impacting canadian heavy haul industry in general but more importantly road infrastructure. Mid-winter thaws can impact operations in provinces that allow winter weight premiums (WWPs) and also impact the duration of spring load restriction (SLR) periods in all Canadian provinces.  The objective of this study is to evaluate the financial, operational, and technical consequences of future WWP and SLR changes resulting from mid-winter thawing and associated climate changes, and to identify potential adaptative management practices and policy changes that could mitigate these consequences.This study will focus on the followings: . 

• Survey of select members of the heavy haul industry (forest industry) to gather information about seasonal weight programs and their economic and operational importance.
• Collection and analysis of provincial pavement monitoring network data to characterize current mid-winter thaw frequency and severity.
• Use on-line climate tools and PCIC data to forecast provincial future changes to winter weight and spring load restriction periods, and to mid-winter thaw frequency and severity.
• Quantify impacts to pavements.
• Assessment of financial, operational, and technical consequences from changes to seasonal weight programs and how alternative adaptive management practices would impact transportation efficiencies.