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Agreement puts cap on road-salt crunch
(by Sali McSherry - December 03, 2008)
Agreement puts cap on road-salt crunch
By SALI McSHERRY
It's all for one and one for all when it comes to road-salt supplies in Cuyahoga County.
The Cuyahoga Mayors and City Managers Association overwhelmingly has voted for a policy of road-salt use with the goal of reducing it by 30 percent this winter. Pepper Pike Service Director Robert Girardi heads the Cuyahoga County Service Directors, which developed the policy.
Among the municipalities agreeing to the goals were Orange, Moreland Hills, Solon, Gates Mills, Hunting Valley and Chagrin Falls.
Northeast Ohio road crews, already his by heavy early snowfalls this fall, have been struggling with limited supplies from local salt mines and soaring prices for shipments from out of state and even overseas. Late snows last spring and high demands elsewhere have been cited as reasons for the shortages.
The policy calls for limiting salting between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. to provide "passable roadways," which it defined as "a roadway surface that is free from drifts, snow ridges and as much ice and snow pack as is practical and can be traveled safely at reasonable speeds."
Due to low traffic volumes at night, Mr. Girardi said, the salt is less effective. If crews begin plowing and salting main roads and school zones at 4 a.m., they will be ice free for rush hour, according to the policy. Only intersections, hills, curves and bridges are to be salted on main roads during the night hours, he said.
During periods of snowfall of one inch or more per hour, main roads will be plowed as frequently as possible but will only be salted at intersections, hills, curves, bridges and school zones, Mr. Girardi said. "Spot salting," defined as "intermittent spreading of salt at 150-foot intervals," also will also when practicable, he said.
Secondary roads, according to the policy, will be plowed as often as possible but will not be salted except for 200 feet at each intersection and at hills, curves, bridges and schools zones. Spot salting will be used on those roads when practicable, Mr. Girardi said.
The policy also includes properly training employees of the sensible salting practices and calibrating snow-removal equipment.
Service departments across the Chagrin Valley are investigating benefits and using alternative products ,such as brine, aggregates and other enhanced deicers, Mr. Girardi said.
In essence, he said, adhering to the new policy will cause less damage to road surfaces, resulting in savings on long-term maintenance, cost savings on road salt and potential savings on departmental overtime, he said. In addition, less salt will enter the storm-water system to reach lakes and streams, Mr. Girardi said.
It's important that communities remain in agreement with the practices, according to the policy, so they can avoid comparisons of road conditions between neighboring municipalities that could bring pressure from residents to increase salt use.
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