Contact: Jim Pinkelman
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 51-00

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will join with the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Transportation Technology Transfer Center and Virginia Tech University to host the fifth annual Eastern Winter Road Maintenance Symposium and Equipment Expo on Sept. 6-7, 2000, at the Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, Va.

"Safety and mobility are top priorities at the Federal Highway Administration, and we recognize that snow and freezing rain can play havoc with the safety and the efficiency of roads," FHWA Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said. "The annual symposium provides valuable information and assistance to state and local officials who operate and maintain the region's transportation systems, often under the most adverse weather conditions."

The symposium will provide a forum for the exchange of information and technologies available to predict and combat the effects of winter on roads, bridges, and other transportation facilities. The symposium also will feature more than 150 exhibitors and the display of 40 new snow fighting vehicles such as snow plows and anti-icing sprayers.

In addition, the symposium will make the latest information available on topics such as snow and ice control, Road Weather Information Systems and forecasting, anti-icing, post-storm clean-up, pavement rehabilitation, and current research, training and educational initiatives. It will give participants the opportunity to compare notes and share experiences with their peers from other states who may have encountered similar circumstances in winters past.

The symposium is free, but those attending must pre-register. For event details and registration forms, visit the web site at http://www.easternsnowexpo.org, or call Deborah Vocke at the Eastern Resource Center of the Federal Highway Administration, 410-962-3744.