This report provides an extensive overview of road closures due to extreme weather events and their practical applications, as discussed by the PIARC TC1.5. It compiles information on road closures during extreme weather events worldwide, as well as insights from experts and practitioners in the field. The report aims to provide administrative agencies and road managers with useful reference materials to help ensure the safety of road users.
As extreme weather events have become more severe and frequent worldwide in recent years, ensuring the social and sustainable resilience of road functions has become an important issue in disaster management. A new approach has emerged: deliberately implementing road closures during extreme weather events to encourage behavioral changes in travel, ensure the safety of road users, and strengthen recovery efforts. This report focuses on this trend, providing a detailed explanation of its background and practices.
Furthermore, the report classifies and explains methods for closing roads during extreme weather events, such as heavy snowfall, flooding, landslides, and strong winds. These measures are categorized as Early Warning (Prepare for potential events), Precautionary (Provide adequate time to modify travel patterns and driver behavior prior to the event), Preventative (Quickly adjust traffic patterns and minimizing impact), and Reactive (Stabilize Traffic Impact and Prevent Secondary Incidents). The report also analyzes how countries use weather information, prediction data, and road conditions to issue warnings and set triggers for closure decisions.
Additionally, the report presents case studies of best practices tailored to regional characteristics. The report emphasizes the importance of adapting national standards and response measures to the topography, weather, and traffic conditions of each region.
This report will be a valuable resource for organizations looking to improve their road closure protocols for extreme weather events, offering practical insights and comparative analyses from various regions.