When the storm is at its worst, it can feel unsafe to drive over the mountain passes. The waiting time can be several hours long when there are queues. The challenges will be overcome by the Swedish Road Administration together with the company Roadtech this winter. Convoy driving on Hardangervidda is often associated with long waiting times. Photo: Gunnar Grimstveit / news This week intelligent plow sticks were placed on the roadside at Halne in Hardangervidda. The plugs look ordinary, but contain advanced technology. A GPS logs exactly where the plugs are placed. – We log a lot of data when we put the plugs out, including with GPS position that can be used by the contractor and builder afterwards, says Peder Strømsvåg from the company Roadtech. Peder Strømsvåg at the company Roadtech wants to make it easier for plow drivers to see where the plow sticks are. Photo: Tale Hauso / news The drivers use the app The information gives the plow driver the opportunity to know exactly where the road goes, whether they are driving in a column or plowing. The drivers receive this information via an app on a tablet. Visibility can also be poor for plow drivers in a column. – When there is a real storm in the mountains and you can’t see well, this aid can help the plow truck drivers to plow in a good and safe way. In this way, they keep the road open for road users, says Sven Egil Finden, director of the Norwegian Road Administration. Visibility can be poor in stormy weather. New technology should make it easier for plow truck drivers to keep the correct speed and distance. Photo: Bård Wormdal / news The ploughshare also sits four times better in the ground than today’s ploughshare. This autumn, the stakes will be drilled down on four mountain passes: Highway 7 Hardangervidda Highway 52 Hemsedalsfjellet Highway 13 Vikafjellet. E16 Filefjell Can run several columns in a shorter time Another high-tech solution will also be tested in column running. So-called “column guard”, which is a token that is handed out to all the vehicles in the column queue. – It sends out a signal that the plow drivers both behind and in front receive. If it lights up red, the distance to the cars in front is too large or too small. Green light shows that the distance is correct. This is with a view to improving safety and ensuring the speed of the column, says Finden. Sven Egil Finden, director of the Norwegian Road Administration, believes the new technology makes it safer to drive over the mountain. Photo: Tale Hauso / news This can also mean that more columns can run in less time than today, according to Finden. – It will improve accessibility, opening hours on the road, provide better environmental accounting on the road and provide better safety, says Finden.
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Intelligent plow sticks will take you safely over mountain passes in stormy weather – news Vestland
