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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED SALT USAGE ON THE CHLORIDE CONCENTRATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BRIDGES AND ROADS

After passage of law HB 1162 in 1988, which created a winter safe highway maintenance program including a special fund to be used for the increased salting of State highways and bridges, the South Dakota Department of Transportation developed a policy and standards to apply more salt for the increased removal of snow and ice. While implementing the policy, a project was conducted to see what effect the increased use of salt would have on South Dakota's bridges and highways. Fifty-three bridges of three types and 19 sections of highways were sampled. Each of the bridge or highway sections had eight samples removed for analysis. The first samples were taken in the fall of 1988 and the second set in the summer of 1989. The samples were checked for chloride concentration by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic Analysis. Results indicated that the increased use of salt has significantly increased the chloride concentration of the bridges in this study. It was found that, while it is next to impossible to decrease the salt concentration, a rubberized asphalt chip seal on bridges is an effective method of keeping new salt from being introduced into the bridge. Results from the highway sections showed that the increased use of salt has had very little determinable effect.

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures;
  • Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00600785
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 31 1990 12:00AM