Citation

Kurien BT. Public Works Manag. Policy 2011; 16(3): 270-288.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1087724X11405064

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Snowstorms/ice storms cause (a) road deaths/ injuries/property damage (b) environmental damage from deicing salt/contaminant highway runoff (c) drinking water contamination from deicing salt-runoff, with potential implications for human health (d) lost revenue from road deaths/injuries/damages/salting highways and snow removal (e) productivity/ school attendance loss consequent to nonpassable roadways (f) salt-induced damage to roads/automobiles/wildlife/plants/birds/pets and (g) lack of access to emergency medical care. Stretches of intracity highways and important roads/bridges covered with a " " shaped, ventilator-fitted Plexiglas roof will keep roads snow/ice free. Plexiglas roofing would help eliminate the need for salting roads and snow removal. This would help alleviate environmental damage, groundwater contamination, and human health interactions, particularly salt intake and hypertension and other diseases. Roofed-roads would reduce rain-related accidents, help prevent corrosion of roads/bridges due to road-salt/rain/acid rain and water freeze/thaw-related road/bridge damage. Covered local roads and intracity highways would be a boon to commuters in icy/rainy road conditions.