WEST MILFORD — Winter is definitely here and making itself known. With a forecast calling for upwards of a foot of snow today, most people worry about the roads. Will they be safe and clear? How long will it take and is using salt and sand the best way to protect the roads and residents?
There are other concerns when it comes to the salt and sand on the roads - environmental, efficiency and cost among them. Last month, Patrick Restaino of the Newfoundland section of town talked to the mayor and council about changing things a bit by considering using a salt brine on the roads instead of just straight salt and sand. The bring, he said, could save West Milford tens of thousands of dollars, avoid so much grit on roads and gets roads cleaner when plowed.
What is salt brine and what does it do?
Salt brine is a mixture of sodium chloride and water - rock salt dissolved in water. Some municipalities apply a brine to road surfaces before a storm hits to prepare the road surface for the snow. It is similar to spraying a frying pan with cooking spray, Restaino said. Just like the cooking spray keeps food from sticking, the brine keeps the snow from sticking to the road.
West Milford hasn't used this process yet. According to Administrator Nancy Gage, some people think it's great and some don't. The township's former Department of Public Works Commissioner Gerald Storms didn't like it, she said, but the topic comes up every year. The township is searching for a new DPW director. Mayor Bettina Bieri said the topic will be addressed again when a new DPW director is hired.
Ideally, salt bring is applied to dry road surfaces, up to 72 hours in advance of a storm. The brine dries and embeds into the asphalt. When snow hits the asphalt, the brine activates and lowers the freezing point of water. The melting process doesn't happen immediately. The object of the brine is to prevent the snow or ice from adhering to the road. It allows smooth plowing, keeping the snow from sticking and revealing a cleaner surface.
The brine is a 23.3 percent concentration of salt which withstands freezing temperatures. It can be spread in temperatures as low as 10 degrees.
Advantages of salt brine
According to Restaino's research, salt brine applied to roads before a snow fall:
returns the surface to normal faster
jump-starts the melting process because no additional moisture is needed like it is with plain rock salt
doesn't bounce or blow off the road suffice
remains on the road if the storm is delayed, ready to work
allows crews to cover more territory because they can start work sooner, 48 hours in advance of a storm
minimizes environmental concerns, including leaving less sedimentation in streams and on roadways.
Using brine lessens the amount of salt and sand needed, which also lessens the amount of grits left on roads. Restaino said his road wasn't cleared of grits until the end of June last year.
Brine has been used in the midwest since the late 1990s, he said. The New Jersey Department of Transportation uses brine on Route 23. Butler, Oakland and Franklin Lakes all use brine on their roads. Restaino said the Butler township administrator offered to pre-treat a small area in West Milford for the township to see how it works. Restaino also said he talked to a member of the West Milford Engineering Department and got positive comments on trying a small pilot program.
Environmental concerns
In an article published in 2010 by The Warwick Advertiser, a sister paper of the West Milford Messenger, snow clearing methods were addressed. Salt is used on roads to lower the freezing point of snow, turning it to slush. As snow melts, it carries the road salt over roadside vegetation into streams, lakes and the groundwater we drink. It is a the most universal water pollutant.
What are your thoughts? Do you think the township should use brine on the roads before a storm or keep things the way they are? Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us your thoughts. And stay safe in the storm!