Beverly Hills, Mich. — The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) will spread less salt per mile of roadway this year, compared to previous years, having adopted a “sensible salting” philosophy.

“This move should save RCOC money that otherwise would have been spent on salt, while helping the environment and, at the same time, having little impact on motorist safety,” stated RCOC Board Chairman Richard Skarritt. “We are committed to providing the most cost-effective winter road maintenance possible, without compromising motorist safety”

RCOC will now spread approximately 400 pounds of salt for every mile of two lanes of pavement. Previously, the agency had spread up to 800 pounds for every mile of two lanes of pavement.

Skarritt explained that the addition in recent years of “pre-wetting” devices on RCOC salt trucks has increased the efficiency of the salt spreaders, meaning less salt is required to attain the same level of ice removal. The pre-wetting devices spray salt water onto the rock salt as it is spread on the road, causing the salt’s ice-melting capability to begin working immediately. Prior to the use of pre-wetters, it would take a little time for the salt to mix with moisture on the road before the salt would begin melting snow and ice.

Skarritt explained that using the pre-wetting system means that 400 pounds of pre-wet salt has the same impact as 500 pounds of dry salt.

In addition to the advent of the pre-wetting system, experts in the transportation field have demonstrated in recent years that road agencies do not really need as much salt as was often used in the past. These experts have argued that the additional salt did little to make roads safer and could impact the environment.

Among those advocating the reduced use of salt is the Salt Institute, an Alexandria, VA-based non-profit salt industry trade association dedicated to advocating responsible use of salt (www.saltinstitute.org). The Institute was founded in 1914 and consists of the leading salt companies in the world.

An additional factor in persuading RCOC to reduce its spread rates was the mandate from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) that no more than 450 pounds per two-lane mile be spread on state highways. RCOC maintains nearly all state highways in Oakland County on behalf of MDOT.

MDOT has indicated it will use calibration equipment to confirm that RCOC and other county road commissions are spreading no more than 450 pounds of salt per two-lane mile of MDOT road. RCOC also uses computerized salt spreaders that adjust spread rate depending on the speed of the truck, so that salt is not wasted as trucks slow down and stop. RCOC fleet managers are also able to remotely monitor salt spread rates on all agency trucks in real time from computers at the agency garages.

The reduced salt spreading guidelines also mean RCOC trucks will be able to stay on the road salting for longer periods of time before having to return to the garage to refill with salt.

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