Item: Multi-level avalanche risk reduction on the Trans-Canada Highway - Three Valley Gap Remote Avalanche Control System (RACS)
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Title: Multi-level avalanche risk reduction on the Trans-Canada Highway - Three Valley Gap Remote Avalanche Control System (RACS)
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop Proceedings 2018, Innsbruck, Austria
Authors:
- Alan Jones [ Dynamic Avalanche Consulting Ltd., Revelstoke, BC, Canada ]
- Walter Steinkogler [ Wyssen Avalanche Control, Revelstoke, BC, Canada ]
- Val Visotzky [ Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada ]
Date: 2018-10-07
Abstract: Three Valley Gap, located 20 km west of Revelstoke, is one of the highest priority avalanche areas on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH). During 2007-2016, avalanche related closures averaged 46.5 hours per winter during 12 closure periods, many of which exceeded 2 hours. These closures present a major disruption to commercial traffic and the local economy. Increasing traffic volumes continue to increase avalanche risk, and compound traffic flow problems. During 2016 and 2017, nine remote avalanche control systems (RACS) were installed at Three Valley Gap. This system reduces risk to public and commercial vehicles, risk to workers performing avalanche control, and will reduce the duration of avalanche related closures. Benefits of RACS during the first two winters included a reduction of time for avalanche control from about 30-60 to 5-15 minutes, and the reduction of the average time per closure from 3.9 hours (during 2007-2016) to 1.5 and 1.7 hours during the 2017 and 2018 winters, respectively. The pre-mission preparation time was reduced, allowing workers to manage other avalanche areas in the highway corridor. Avalanche control missions are now possible in the dark, when lower traffic volumes are present, further reducing the impact of closures on traffic. A cost-benefit discussion is presented that highlights the economic value of this project, suggesting a full return on investment for the public during the first two years of operation. The economic benefit combined with the reduction of risk to the public and workers speaks highly to the benefits of RACS for important highway corridors.
Object ID: ISSW2018_O03.1.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s):
Keywords: Avalanche control, highway, avalanche risk, explosives, remote avalanche control system.
Page Number(s): 209-213
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