• Font Size    

Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com

Architect Wants To Save Mellon Arena
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

PennDOT Makes Preparations For Winter Season

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Nov 19, 2008 5:49 pm US/Eastern

PennDOT Makes Preparations For Winter Season

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The recent November snow is a reminder to drivers that winter is on the way, and this winter PennDOT is planning to use less salt on the roads.

"We've come up with different trucks, different systems on them, to help us monitor the usage of the material we use and all that," said Bob Crawford, of PennDOT.

With salt prices spiking, PennDOT is paying around $52 per ton. The hope is to use less of it this winter.

"Years ago, we were probably putting the salt down at 1,200 pounds a lane mile, over the years. Now we're at 300-500. We control it," said Crawford.

A pre-coat of salt brine means less of a chance the salt will bounce around.

"It works to where it seems like we're getting more done, and more burned off than when you used to throw the dry rock salt down," said Crawford.

Another change that PennDOT is looking to make is the way salt ends up on the road.

Including a change from the traditional salt spreader, when that salt comes out, it hits the spreader and ends up on the road. But there is a bit of a clearance, so that gives it some leeway to bounce around. They lose some control as to where the salt ends up.

But the Iowa spreader is much lower to the ground, and by doing that and reducing the clearance, that salt ends up on the ground and not on your car.

And with a new valve system being installed, plow blades will float above the pavement, reducing wear and tear.




(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Local News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.