With a Wisconsin winter dragging on, the state DOT has asked counties to reduce the amount of salt used on most state roads. Todd Matheson with the state Department of Transportation said the agency closely monitors the amount of salt available for use on state highways – and there’s now some 135,000 tons on hand. DOT is asking county highway departments to reduce salt application rates on non-Interstate routes.
“What we’ve done is lowered the maximum application rates that we generally prescribe on those non-Interstate routes,” Matheson said.
Will drivers notice? Dan Fedderly is Executive Director of the Wisconsin County Highways Association. “When you start reducing application rates – and it depends largely on the type of weather you have – that may result in the public seeing periods of time when there’s more snow on the road than they’re typically used to,” Fedderly said.
As for county salt supplies, Fedderly says there’s more concern among the higher volume urban counties, but that counties use salt conservation measures throughout the winter.
“A lot depends on Mother Nature, but implementing these conservation measures now and continuing to monitor salt inventories weekly will help ensure we’ll have an adequate supply for the rest of this winter season,” Matheson said.