The most efficient methods of reducing winter maintenance costs are reducing the amount of salt and anti-skid materials we use and decreasing the number of hours employees spend treating roads, while maintaining public safety.
Wetting Systems Public Works uses 2 wetting systems for our fleet of snow-fighting equipment. These units spray the salt with salt brine while it is being dispensed onto the roadway. The salt brine reduces the amount of splatter of the salt, thus keeping more of the product on the area where it is needed. The salt brine also increases the melting time of the salt, thus quickening the time it takes to melt the snow and ice.
Salt Brine / Anti-Icing The department also applies salt brine to the roadways in advance of expected winter storms. This anti-icing method has several advantages:
- Application during better, pre-storm weather conditions
- Easier, quicker removal of snow and ice
- Increased road safety in a shorter amount of time
- Reduction of chemical use by 50% to 80%
- Application during normal work hours, thus reducing overtime cost
Calcium Chloride
Starting in 2023, in lower temperatures, Public Works uses calcium chloride to melt ice faster than other methods. Upon contact with ice, calcium chloride quickly forms ice-melting brine.
