Methods used in snow removal will vary considerably depending upon who maintains the road. Throughout the rest of this piece, if you see the word “salt” I am referring to sodium chloride. This means agencies ought be judicious in using it as replenishment during the winter can sometimes be a challenge, particularly when there will be competition for it. It is also my understanding salt producers mine only so many tons per year for highway use. One gives two years of use, the other maybe about two hours. One can figure a ton of sodium chloride will cost as much, but often more, than a ton of hot asphalt. ![]() Sodium chloride used to be cheap but that is no longer the case. It will create what is sometimes called a “hot load”. It is also not uncommon to mix a little calcium chloride with sodium chloride. Calcium chloride, being hydroscopic, will absorb moisture, allowing residual material on pavements to sweat which can lead to refreeze. In addition to eating motorists cars and snow equipment, the runoff tends to do nasty things to pavements and bridge structures. Personally I’m not a fan of either magnesium chloride nor calcium chloride, but that is just my opinion. The color of sodium chloride will vary greatly by source location. Sodium chloride is generally obtained in its raw, granular form. For those who have forgotten their chemistry, sodium chloride is table salt.Ĭalcium chloride can be obtained as a flake, pellet, or in liquid form. The choice on which to use is that of each individual entity maintaining the roadway, but as a rule of thumb magnesium chloride is more corrosive than calcium chloride which is more corrosive than sodium chloride. The salts used are generally magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride. Snow removal is more than just driving around and slinging material so let’s sort through this process one item at a time. Yes, I do deal with such things at work although on the managerial end of things. Since my initial interpretation of this forecast is for distinct snow events and ice potential, let’s talk about how such events are treated by those who are in that business.įor a while I’ve been toying with the idea of diving into specifics about the science of snow removal – and it is indeed a science. He said their most reliable forecast is calling for a mild El Niño cycle with warmer temperatures and more precipitation than last winter. It’s simply that time of the year.ĭuring a recent conversation with a meteorologist from the National Weather Service, I inquired about the long range forecast for the Midwestern United States this coming winter. ![]() Winter is fast approaching the northern hemisphere and at the time of this writing there is freezing precipitation in the Dakotas.
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