Unit 3: Salt and Sand on Highways During Winter Storms
Salt and Sand on Highways During Winter Storms
Winter storms occur very frequently in Canada which is why salt and sand is needed to get rid of the snow and ice, especially on the highways. According to the Vancouver Courier, The most efficient way to use a salt-sand mix is by making the mixture, one-part salt to 12 parts sand for increased abrasion and traction.
In an article by the Vancouver Courier, it states that by using correct ratios of salt and sand, it will still have its freezing point depression while not having highly negative effects on the environment. There are other mixtures used in order to melt ice and snow including, salt brine — a diluted mixture of salt and water, and calcium chloride (CaCl2)
"We make that ourselves," (Cloutier, 2018). By using “salt brine”, there is usually a better distribution of salt since it stays in the pores of the road for a couple of days. Unlike salt and sand mixtures, the brine will have a better distribution of the salt, since it won’t bounce directly onto the shoulder. Calcium chloride is also used because it's highly soluble. According to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) communications department, calcium chloride is used to pre-wet the materials coming out of the trucks, making the sand stick to the road and activating the salt to start melting ice. (Taylor, 2018) Calcium chloride is especially used when there is an unsafe amount of black ice because it does the best job of reducing the effects of black ice.
However in Canada, once the ice finishes its melting job, approximately 10,000 tonnes of the salt dissolves into chloride and sodium ions, running off into our lakes and rivers, working its way into soil, damaging many things including our infrastructure, plants, animals and the aquatic environment at risk. Although Whistler and many other cities in Canada recognize the environmental impacts of salt but it is the most economically affordable solution to clear roads and walkways safely at the moment. The RMOW is currently spreading more than 700 tonnes every winter with their salt budget of more than $80,000 per year ($117.50/tonne including shipping).
Salt and sand mixtures are currently the most affordable solution for providing safe roads and walkways. Even if it's not very environmentally friendly and it even damages our boots and shoes, I believe we must continue using it, but more efficiently. Despite helping us citizens have clear roads to go to school and work, salt still has a negative impact on the environment, raising the question of whether salt and sand should be replaced with another mixture or just used much more efficiently.
Taylor, Alison. “Is It Time to Stop Throwing Salt at Road Clearing?” Vancouver Courier, 19 Feb. 2018, www.vancourier.com/news/is-it-time-to-stop-throwing-salt-at-road-clearing-1.23178731.
“Road-Sanding a Thing of the Past? Brine Isn't Just for Turkeys Anymore | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 19 Nov. 2016, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/road-sanding-a-thing-of-the-past-brine-isn-t-just-for-turkeys-anymore-1.3858923.
“Why Does Salt Melt Ice?” Ice Melter Distributor | Salt Supplier | KISSNER, 19 Nov. 2013, www.kissner.com/why-does-salt-melt-ice/.
Link to Article: https://www.vancourier.com/news/is-it-time-to-stop-throwing-salt-at-road-clearing-1.23178731
Winter storms occur very frequently in Canada which is why salt and sand is needed to get rid of the snow and ice, especially on the highways. According to the Vancouver Courier, The most efficient way to use a salt-sand mix is by making the mixture, one-part salt to 12 parts sand for increased abrasion and traction.
In an article by the Vancouver Courier, it states that by using correct ratios of salt and sand, it will still have its freezing point depression while not having highly negative effects on the environment. There are other mixtures used in order to melt ice and snow including, salt brine — a diluted mixture of salt and water, and calcium chloride (CaCl2)
"We make that ourselves," (Cloutier, 2018). By using “salt brine”, there is usually a better distribution of salt since it stays in the pores of the road for a couple of days. Unlike salt and sand mixtures, the brine will have a better distribution of the salt, since it won’t bounce directly onto the shoulder. Calcium chloride is also used because it's highly soluble. According to the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) communications department, calcium chloride is used to pre-wet the materials coming out of the trucks, making the sand stick to the road and activating the salt to start melting ice. (Taylor, 2018) Calcium chloride is especially used when there is an unsafe amount of black ice because it does the best job of reducing the effects of black ice.
However in Canada, once the ice finishes its melting job, approximately 10,000 tonnes of the salt dissolves into chloride and sodium ions, running off into our lakes and rivers, working its way into soil, damaging many things including our infrastructure, plants, animals and the aquatic environment at risk. Although Whistler and many other cities in Canada recognize the environmental impacts of salt but it is the most economically affordable solution to clear roads and walkways safely at the moment. The RMOW is currently spreading more than 700 tonnes every winter with their salt budget of more than $80,000 per year ($117.50/tonne including shipping).
Salt and sand mixtures are currently the most affordable solution for providing safe roads and walkways. Even if it's not very environmentally friendly and it even damages our boots and shoes, I believe we must continue using it, but more efficiently. Despite helping us citizens have clear roads to go to school and work, salt still has a negative impact on the environment, raising the question of whether salt and sand should be replaced with another mixture or just used much more efficiently.
Taylor, Alison. “Is It Time to Stop Throwing Salt at Road Clearing?” Vancouver Courier, 19 Feb. 2018, www.vancourier.com/news/is-it-time-to-stop-throwing-salt-at-road-clearing-1.23178731.
“Road-Sanding a Thing of the Past? Brine Isn't Just for Turkeys Anymore | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 19 Nov. 2016, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/road-sanding-a-thing-of-the-past-brine-isn-t-just-for-turkeys-anymore-1.3858923.
“Why Does Salt Melt Ice?” Ice Melter Distributor | Salt Supplier | KISSNER, 19 Nov. 2013, www.kissner.com/why-does-salt-melt-ice/.
Link to Article: https://www.vancourier.com/news/is-it-time-to-stop-throwing-salt-at-road-clearing-1.23178731
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