This year we will use ClearLane treated salt exclusively on three plow routes. ClearLane consists of 96% sodium chloride deicing salt and 4% magnesium chloride wetting agent. The magnesium chloride serves several functions: it lowers the effective working temperatures of the salt, wetting the salt reduces bounce and scatter keeping more salt on the road, and finally, it is a corrosion inhibitor.
The move to treated salt will require several philosophical and procedural changes. Currently, we apply a 7 parts sand to 1 part salt mix early in the storm and periodically during the storm. During the storm, snow is quickly packed into ice that adheres to the road surface. This hard pack has to be scraped off after the storm and may, in some instances, take several days before it is completely removed. The sand salt mix costs approximately $20 per ton and is applied at a rate that varies from 500 to 700 pounds per lane mile.
The treated salt is applied to the roads before the storm during the regular shift. Applying treated salt to roadways before the accumulation of snow and ice (anti-icing) will prevent ice from bonding to the roadway by creating a brine barrier between any precipitation and the roadway. Salt costs $88.70 per ton and is applied at a rate of 200 to 300 pounds per lane mile. Generally, salt will be applied before the storm, again durign the storm on hills if needed and at the end of the storm to prevent the formation of black ice. This winter we will be using our two newest trucks and one older truck on the salt routes. The newer trucks have a computer ground speed controller that increases or decreases the salt application rate to adjust for the truck slowing down or speeding up to ensure that the salt will be
applied at the same rate regardless of the speed of the truck.
The use of treated salt without sand has many advantages:
Taxpayers will benefit from reduced spring sweeping and catch basin cleaning costs along with the elimination of sand from entering our streams and waterways;
Streets will not be brown with sand at the conclusion of a storm;
Treated salt bounces less than standard rock salt ensuring more material on the roadway, not in the gutter;
Crews will cover more territory as a truckload of treated salt will last longer than sand/salt mix.
The three plow routes will include Mott Hill Road, White Birch Road, and all roads north of Brewer Road, North Main Street, Lake Drive, Lake Road, Clark Hill Road, east of Midwood Farm Road, Seven Hills area, and all paved roads east of the Lake, including Princess Pocotopaug Trail area and the Meeks Point/poets area.
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