What does PennDOT put on roads during a winter storm?
A.Prior to storms, salt brine is sprayed on some roadways, depending on the type of storm that is approaching and the availability of the spraying equipment. During the storm the roads are treated with salt or a salt and anti-skid combination. Anti-skid is a natural or man-made material such as sand, fine stone or a manufacturing by-product. Salt helps to melt the snow or ice and the anti-skid adds to traction. The amount of material on the roadway depends on the type of road, type and duration of storm and the temperature. In extremely cold storms, below 18oF, anti-skid alone may be used. This is due to the large reduction in the speed of the melting action of salts in extreme temperatures. In some storms, at temperatures between 25 and 18oF, salt is coated with magnesium chloride (MgCl) to accelerate the melting process. Q.
