This paper describes Brun-Way Highways Operations Inc. (Brun-Way) journey of incorporating a new type of snow removal equipment, the Tow Plow, in the echelon plow train, discusses the resulting impacts on the public, environment and facility assets and evaluates this method of snow and ice control based on performance and training requirements. Brun-Way undertook a pilot project in the winter of 2006–07 to evaluate the use of Tow Plows for snow and ice removal on Route 2, a portion of the four-lane divided highway between the Quebec Border and west of Fredericton, NB. Brun-Way is the Operator for the Trans Canada Highway Project, a P3 project in New Brunswick. One Tow Plow was provided by the Viking-Cives Group of Mount Forest, Ontario to Brun-Way for this evaluation. Following reasonable results with the unit, Brun-Way ordered three more Tow Plows for the winter of 2007–08 and a further six units for the 2008–09 winter season. The use of the Tow Plows has enabled Brun-Way to improve its level of service in a safe, cost effective manner and serves as a strategy to deal with the shrinking pool of trained and experienced operators. Although Tow Plows have previously been in use with the Missouri Department of Transportation, Highway 407 ETR and Minnesota, the Brun-Way Tow Plows required several modifications in order to be considered compliant with NBDOT vehicle licensing and safety requirements. As well, other modifications were made to suit the Brun-Way snow and ice control processes. Brun-Way actively practices anti-icing, pre-wetting and other salt-reduction strategies, so the Tow Plows were retrofitted to be useful in these circumstances. Brun-Way implemented training programs for operators in order to ensure that the Tow Plows were used in a safe and efficient manner. As a result of our experience with the Tow Plows over three winter seasons, the training has been modified to suit the needs of our operators and the travelling public. The use of Tow Plows for certain plow routes on the highway has resulted in economic changes related to fuel and payroll while maintaining or improving upon the required level of service. However, not all plow routes or storm types are amenable to the use of Tow Plows. As a result, Brun-Way has developed methods to deal with heavy and wet snowfalls, hills, narrow medians, and other such challenges associated with the highway infrastructure.
