Feature Article November 20, 2002
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Hwy 506 Winter Maintenance Pilot ProjectThis coming winter, North Frontenac Townships Public Works Department will undertake a pilot project that will see the latest in salt/ice management techniques applied to Road 506, from Highway 41 to the municipal office west of Plevna.
After a presentation to Council on November 12 by Department Manager John Ibey, township officials opted to spend up to $16,000 to retrofit an existing sander unit with an on board liquid pre-wetting system. Essentially, the process delivers a salt-based brine from a side tank set-up, rather than the old method of applying dry salt to the road surface.
From a convention he had attended recently, Ibey brought back information that the brine system had been tried in another jurisdiction, and the results were superior to that of dry salting. While being environmentally-friendly by laying down less than average in the way of road salt, North Frontenacs sand use ends up being proportionally higher. The discussion around Council table recognized that an inordinate amount of winter sanding just gets blown off to the side of the road, dry salt is temperature sensitive, and the existing practices for maintenance exact a greater time toll on equipment and staff.
The brine system is touted as being more cost effective, and that was the tack taken by Council in approving the maintenance test. We are a progressive municipality, said Mayor Stan Johnson. We have to stay ahead of the curve. In agreeing to try the new approach, Councillor Bud Clayton stated We cant afford not to try (the project).
Money to carry out the test will come from the Highways 506/509 fund.
