INDUSTRIAL PREMIX IN SNOW AND ICE CONTROL, THE MASSACHUSETTS PROGRAM

A BRIEF HISTORY IS PRESENTED OF THE USE OF SAND, SALT, BRINE-TREATED SAND, MIXTURES OF SAND AND SALT AND BLENDING OF SODIUM AND CALCIUM CHLORIDES FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL IN MASSACHUSETTS. BY THE YEAR 1967, THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ANNUAL CHEMICAL USE HAD INCREASED TO 130,000 TONS OF SODIUM CHLORIDE AND 6,000 TONS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE. THE CALCIUM, SPREAD THROUGHTOUT EIGHT DISTRICTS WAS BEING MIXED WITH SODIUM BY FRONT END LOADERS, AT VARIOUS TIMES AND IN VARYING INTENSITIES. THERE WAS CONCERN OVER ITS PROPER USE AND STORAGE. THE PROSPECTS WERE PURSUED OF A PRE-BLEND OF THE CHEMICALS TO LESSEN THE COST OF MIXING, INSURE REALISTICALLY PROPORTIONATE USE, SECURE A MORE THOROUGH BLEND AND A BETTER STORAGE MEDIUM FOR THIS MORE EXPENSIVE ELEMENT. BIDS WERE REQUESTED FOR 15,000 TOTAL TONS OF A 4:1 MIXTURE BY WEIGHT. THE PRODUCTION OF THE MIX BY THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WAS SUPERVISED BY A DEPARTMENT RESIDENT. THE MATERIAL DELIVERED DURING THE FIRST YEAR WAS WELL RECEIVED BY THE SNOW FIGHTING FORCES. STORAGE OF THE PRE-MIX WAS SATISFACTORY. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE 1968-1969 WINTER PRE-MIX REDUCED THE INTENSITY TO 5:1 BY WEIGHT. SUCCESSFUL USE INDICATES THAT INDUSTRIAL PRE-MIX FOR MASSACHUSETTS IS SUCCESSFUL AND THAT ITS COST WILL IMPROVE AS BETTER MIXING TECHNIQUES EVOLVE AND POSSIBLY AS THE VOLUME OUTPUT INCREASES.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 10th Annual MEETING, 6 PP
• Authors:
  • Carr, F H
• Conference:
  • North American Snow Conf Proc
• Publication Date: 1969-4-11

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blending; Calcium chloride; Economics; Handling and storage; Premixing; Snow and ice control; Sodium chloride; Storage facilities
• Old TRIS Terms: Front end loaders
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218501
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 4 1994 12:00AM