Lombard Public Works Department Anti-Icing Agents Help Save Time, Money

Anti-icing, an approach that the Public Works Department has implemented, is a proactive approach to prevent ice or snowpack from forming on the Village roadways, according to Chris Bohnert, Streets & Electrical Supervisor of the Public Works Department. “It makes clean up easier and faster, too,” said Bohnert.

Currently, the Public Works Department anti-ices the priority streets, according to the Village Snow Plan. “The program has been utilized on these streets, as well as some commuter sidewalk locations, and has been effective in combating snow and ice,” he added.

Anti-icing also provides additional benefits to the Village, including:

• Crews can begin treatment ahead of the storm.

• Increased efficiency results in the use of less salt, minimizing environmental concerns.

• Reduced personnel costs as some storms will not require “call outs” of crews.

• Chloride reduction in rivers.

• Anti-icing returns road surfaces to normal faster, resulting in fewer accidents and delays.

• If a storm is delayed, salt residue remains on the road ready to begin work when precipitation begins.

• Cost savings by the use of less material.

During the past few years, all Village departments have been looking at various ways to save money, reduce Village expenditures and combine resources, yet still deliver the same quality services that Lombard residents expect to receive. Testing the use of “anti-icing” agents is one such example.