Snow, Lovely Snow

   We’re finally getting some snow, and for most of us that’s a good thing. Snow is pretty and clean. It is brilliant in the sunlight and brings some light to the darkness of night. And kids like to go sledding in it and make snowmen and snow forts.

   All right. That’s enough of the good stuff about snow. The bad part is trying to maneuver in it, especially in a vehicle. I don’t know about you, but I say 'thank you' to the road crews every single time I hear/see them on my street. I don’t know when they sleep, because it’s usually in the dark of night that I hear them rumble down the street. On the occasion when they can’t get out or if we live in 'the country,' we learn just what it’s like to live in the Midwest without road crews.

   Most snow plows not only move the snow to the side of the road, but they also sprinkle something on the plowed area. We usually think of this as ‘salt,’ although there are many other things that can be and are spread on streets to make them more safe.

   Common salt (sodium chloride) is the cheapest and most available substance. It works by breaking the bond of the ice to the pavement or melt the snow by lowering the freezing point of water. The problem with salt is that it is corrosive to most pavement surfaces; it runs off the streets into lawns and watersheds, and it is only effective when the pavement temperature is 15-20°or above.

   Sand or ground-up ashes are sometimes spread on roadways. It is cheap and it works at temperatures when salt will not, but it tends to clog up drainage systems, and it does not melt snow and ice.

   Sometimes there is an area where salt must be restricted. In these areas the street departments can use something called premix (a combination of sodium chloride and calcium chloride). It’s not as harmful to roadways and it works well at lower temperatures, but it’s more expensive, and it has to be kept dry.

   In recent years departments have been experimenting with pre-treatment solutions. Two chemicals can be used: liquid calcium chloride and liquid magnesium chloride. Both work at really low temperatures and are less harmful to the environment, but their use must be timed correctly.

   Incidentally, snow plow drivers do NOT delight in burying your driveway entrance in a mountain of snow. If they could, they would leave every driveway clear, but this is not a choice they can make. Your best bet is to shovel out your drive after the plow has gone by. Shovel the snow to the right of your driveway as you face the street (or in the direction of travel). And yes, as long as there is snow on the street, the plows will continue moving it to the side…and into your driveway.