Garrett Dawe P E North Region Operations Engineer

Living Snow Fence 100 year life expectancy. Grow to over 100’. 2 Offset Rows

The Safety Engineer Gets Involved… Lane Departure Crashes trunk line North Region Dry 38%

Future TZD Strategy – North Region Utilize icy/snowy/slushy crash maps to identify at least

Norway Spruce 100 year life expectancy. over 100’. Grow to Plant hardiness zones 2

Spruce Purchasing/Cost Purchase “rejects” from nurseries and Christmas tree farms Poor Christmas trees work

Spruce Installation Installed by: Road Commissions Youth Development & Mentoring Program Skid steer with

Spruce Performance Watering generally not performed, unless very dry after initial planting. Maintenance is

Shrub Willow Hybrid-designed to grow in a variety of soils, including drier sites. Grow

Shrub Willow Maintenance Prior to planting, it is best to herbicide the site to

Shrub Willow Plans Spring 2019: Planted 1, 0000 stems along a stretch of I-75

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Garrett Dawe, P. E. North Region Operations Engineer Living Snow Fence

Snowy Weather

Blowing & Drifting Snow

Snow Fence

Living Snow Fence 100 year life expectancy. Grow to over 100’. 2 Offset Rows 10’ spacing Grow 2 -3’ per year in first 25 years

The Safety Engineer Gets Involved… Lane Departure Crashes trunk line North Region Dry 38% Icy/Snowy/Slushy 50% Wet 12% Road Condition

Trunkline Lane Departure

Future TZD Strategy – North Region Utilize icy/snowy/slushy crash maps to identify at least 6 locations that would benefit from living snow fence, and install.

Norway Spruce 100 year life expectancy. over 100’. Grow to Plant hardiness zones 2 -7. Full sun. Will survive in up to 50% shade but growth rate is reduced. Grow 2 -3’ per year in first 25 years of life.

Spruce Purchasing/Cost Purchase “rejects” from nurseries and Christmas tree farms Poor Christmas trees work just fine for snow fence, and at ¼ of the price. $12 -14 per tree Norway Spruce (3 -6’ tall in 10 gallon pot) Hardy w/out many diseases Grows fast with branches to the ground

Recent Deployments - Spruce

Spruce Installation Installed by: Road Commissions Youth Development & Mentoring Program Skid steer with 18” auger and DMI Planting immediately upon delivery helps with survival rate

Spruce Performance Watering generally not performed, unless very dry after initial planting. Maintenance is already noticing improvements with blowing snow. This will only improve as the trees grow.

Shrub Willow

Shrub Willow Hybrid-designed to grow in a variety of soils, including drier sites. Grow to a height of 12 -15 feet. Full sun to partial shade. zones 3 -8. Plant hardiness 50 cents per stem, plus shipping.

Shrub Willow Maintenance Prior to planting, it is best to herbicide the site to reduce competition from weeds/ferns. Mowing around the shrubs in the first couple years helps with weed competition. After 2 -3 years, cut back to encourage more stems and create a bushy plant ideal for containing snow.

Shrub Willow Plans Spring 2019: Planted 1, 0000 stems along a stretch of I-75 near Gaylord $596 for materials Installed by maintenance staff Spring 2020: Have ordered 8, 300 stems for planting at sites identified through TZD Plan and experience of maintenance staff.

Future TZD Strategy – North Region Utilize icy/snowy/slushy crash maps to identify at least 6 locations that would benefit from living snow fence, and install.