The Nebraska Department of Roads and the Nebraska State Patrol organized a meeting of players that communicate during winter weather to ensure mobility and safety on the interstate and western Nebraskan roads.

The Winter Operations and Emergency Management meeting was held on Tuesday at the North Platte Holiday Inn, to support communication between agencies, upgrade current practices and review procedures.

Roger Klasna, District Operations & Maintenance Manager of NDOR District 6 announced the trial of two Infrared Sensors to be used in Paxton.  The sensors send out infrared signals to the road which measures the friction point of the roadway which helps the department of roads determine how safe or unsafe a road may be in slick conditions. The sensors relay information to the control center, in case of slick conditions, the NDOR can alert the public to take caution.

The sensors will also play a key role in gathering data on effective ways to keep the roads safe, “Ice has less friction than a dry roadbed does,” explained Klasna, “By knowing these numbers we can put a different type of product on the roadway, like our anti icing agent,  to test which chemical works better for us.” The mission of the NDOR is to produce a safe transportation system for the traveling public.

There are only two sensors that are planned to be used, being on the slightly more expensive side, the investment is clear. The sensors are non intrusively placed on a pole by the road way rather than placed on the road way like other sensors that run the risk of damage.

Though only two will be in use doesn’t mean that they won’t move around. The sensors are mobile and easy to place anywhere, “I see it being very beneficial if we were to get more of these,” Klasna said, explaining that slick roads pose a higher threat than just snow.

The sensors are planned to be used in Paxton for possibly the length of the on-coming winter. This winter will serve as a test to determine if the sensors are worth investing more money into.