Why Is the Ice Road Speed Limit 15 mph?
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It's to protect the road from damage! (Not so vehicles won't slide on the ice...)
“Speeds on ice roads are typically limited to 15 mph to prevent a vehicle’s weight from causing waves under the surface. These waves can damage the road, or dislodge the ice from the shoreline and create a hazard.”
Islanders find it easy to recognize visitors on the ice road from their big smiles — and often unfortunately — by their excessive speed. Islanders, on the other hand, generally keep to the speed limit because they know the repercussions of driving too fast, and they want the road to be safe and to last as long as possible!
There has been a lot of traffic on the ice road over the past two weeks, and yes, there have been speeders who probably didn't understand the damage they might be causing. The cracks above are not dangerous yet, but they do show wear and tear to the road.
The dedicated people who manage the Madeline Island Ice Road take great care to keep us all safe. The ice road is a gift, especially to the island's year-round residents, so let's all do our part, be safe, and keep to the speed limit!
“The basic mechanics of ice roads have been known for decades. As a laden truck moves over ice, it creates a shallow depression all around it — a sort of bowl in the ice, several inches deep and many yards across. The greater the speed, the deeper the depression. Above a critical velocity that varies with local conditions, a truck can damage the roadbed so severely that the next vehicle to come along will break through the ice. For this reason, the top speed on the Tibbitt to Contwoyto route is usually about 22 mph. In some stretches, as on Waite Lake, the maximum is just a few miles per hour.
As the concavity moves along beneath the truck, the displaced water forms pressure waves under the surface. When these waves reach the lakeshore, they bounce back, and the resulting interference with incoming waves can push the ice up and create a blowout.”
Results of a shoreline heave in 2011—heaves on both approaches this particular year… (The van was left on the ice for island transportation prior to the heave.)
If you drive the ice road, please observe the speed limit! help preserve island access to supplies and emergency aid!
