Ask The City – Why isn’t Salt Used on City Streets?

Your Question:

Why do you use sand/rock for snow/ice removal when salt is a much better alternative? Salt will melt the ice at a much colder temp then sand does. It doesnt have the rocks in it like sand, so there are no worries about damage to our cars like broken windshields (and don't try to tell me that no one has seen broken windshields). Because salt is more efficient, the roads stay safer and allow the plows to get to other roads like some of our residential ones. It is very rediculous that the city doesnt take care of residential roads, I have never heard of such a thing. One last thing, dont try and say that you dont use salt because it damages the roads, it does not, i am from michigan and thats all we use yet we have much better quality roads then wyoming and theres less construction.

The City's Response:

The City of Laramie doesn’t use sand/rock for snow and ice control.  We use a product called Ice Slicer which is a combination of assorted salts and chemicals, primarily sodium chloride and magnesium chloride.  It also contains an anti-corrosion additive. We haven’t used sand/rock for several years.  Our last usage was when we ran out of Ice Slicer and could not get any due to the roads being closed.  Since then we have built the salt storage building and have the capacity to store greater amounts of Ice Slicer.  We quit using sand/rock for other reasons than windshields. There are very few windshields broken at 30 MPH. Our reasons had more to do with excessive wear of pavement markings, dust in the air, sand/rock accumulations in the gutters and in the storm sewers, and the cost of cleaning up the sand/rock in the spring.

WYDOT uses a sand/rock and salt mix on the highways. Tim McGary, District Maintenance Engineer, would be a good source for additional information. WYDOT can be reached at telephone number 307-745-2100.

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