Libertyville keeps salt-saving measures for plowing roadways

Libertyville crews again will use a modified approach to salting lower volume village streets during the 2011-12 snow and ice season.

As has been used the past three years, major roadways will be plowed and salted to achieve bare pavement as soon as possible following a snow and ice event.

The remainder of the streets will be plowed as they have been in the past, but less salt will be used before, during, and after the event.

It is important to note this modification applies to salting of the low-volume pavements; all pavements the village is responsible to plow will be plowed.

The public works department has adjusted its procedures to ensure there is a sufficient quantity of bulk road salt based on what material is on hand and to ensure there is an adequate supply for the entire 2011-12 winter.

The reduced use of salt on the roads is also a more environmentally-friendly approach, which will reduce the effect on rivers, streams and lakes.

The following guidelines will be utilized, as they were during 2010-11:

Ÿ Arterial, collector and business park roads will be salted during an initial callout. During long-term snow event operations, intersections and sharp curves will continue to be salted. At the conclusion of an event, all roads will be salted to reduce icing conditions.

Ÿ Low-volume residential streets will be salted at curves, hills, and intersections during an initial callout. At the conclusion of an event, all roads will be salted at curves, hills and intersections to reduce icing conditions.

Ÿ Cul-de-sacs will not be salted during an initial callout unless there is an icing condition. In certain locations, long throats to the cul-de-sacs may be salted at sharp curves or hills at the direction of the crew leader on duty.

At the conclusion of an initial callout, the crew leader will determine, based on temperature, time and day, if the cul-de-sacs will be salted. If cul-de-sacs need to be salted, the operation may move forward then or the next day. After the completion of a snow event and the cul-de-sacs are plowed, staff will determine whether to salt the cul-de-sacs as noted above.

Ÿ Parking lots plowed by contract will be salted only in the main aisle or the end of the event and all plowing is completed by the contractor. Streets and utilities personnel will check for salt applications.

Ÿ Salt trucks will be calibrated and set to distribute 250 pounds of salt per lane mile. The truck operator will adjust the salt application rate for low-volume residential streets.

Through this effort, officials hope consumption and use of salt will be reduced. However, if during the winter months officials determine this is not the case, they may utilize a sand/salt mixture to augment de-icing efforts.

Visit www.libertyville.com for details.