Automatic De-Icing System Tested on New E6 Highway Stretch in Trøndelag
Drivers facing freezing temperatures and slippery roads across Norway will soon encounter a completely new method for winter road maintenance. When the new E6 highway section between Kvithammar and Åsen in Trøndelag opens on November 12, road developer Nye Veier will launch an automated de-icing system on a notoriously vulnerable stretch.
The pilot project spans a 280-meter dagsone between tunnels in Kleiva. Instead of relying entirely on traditional salt trucks, engineers have mounted specialized salt nozzles directly into the guardrails. These nozzles spray salt brine straight onto the asphalt when frost and ice threaten to form.
Remote Sensors Track Frost Risks to Treat Roads Early
The system operates by tracking real-time weather conditions. Built-in sensors continuously monitor temperature and dew point factors. When conditions indicate an imminent risk of frost, the maintenance contractor can activate the rig remotely via a telephone or mobile application to treat the road surface before ice has a chance to accumulate.
Kleiva was chosen for the trial because it frequently records lower temperatures than surrounding areas. The location receives minimal direct sunlight and sits near a local stream, creating an ideal testing environment for automated winter operations. As vehicles pass through the zone, passing tires will also carry some of the brine further along toward the Kleiva bridge.
Contractor Proposes Targeted Resource Management
The technology was originally proposed by operating contractor Risa, which holds the summer and winter maintenance contract for the new E6 stretch. The firm utilizes similar technology on Karmøy. Nye Veier hopes the automated approach will reduce the need to dispatch heavy salt trucks across entire regional sections when only isolated trouble spots require treatment.
We want to be ahead of the curve,
said Roar Dypvik, operations advisor at Nye Veier. If we can treat exactly the point that needs it, when it needs it, we can both contribute to good driving conditions and use resources more targeted.
The initial deployment serves as a pilot project to gather operational data. Nye Veier and Risa plan to evaluate performance across varying winter weather conditions to determine whether the automated spray setup should expand to other frost-prone parts of the national road network. Dypvik added that gathering a full season of operational experience remains the top priority before considering wider implementation.
Broader Technology Rollout and Future Operations
Automated de-icing represents just one component of a broader strategy to modernize operations on the incoming E6 route. Crews have also installed specialized sensors inside five local tunnels to supply more precise data regarding tunnel washing requirements and general upkeep. The contract structure between Nye Veier and Risa explicitly encourages technological innovation to maintain high road uptime and minimize closures.
Risa’s operational responsibilities will expand further in September 2027, when the company takes over the maintenance contract for the E6 stretch between Ranheim and Åsen. Whether the automated guardrail sprayers spread to those additional kilometers depends entirely on the winter performance data collected in Kleiva over the coming months.