Sustaining Michigan’s Transportation Assets through Winter Maintenance Best Practices……A Roadmap for the 21 st Century SEMCOG University/Webinar “Winter Road Maintenance: Policy, Practice, and Technology” Presenter: Mark Cornwell

Salt and Oil....A tale of Two Commodities * are found below ground * are vital strategic commodities in food and goods and services * have historical ties to Power and Influence * are Natural Resources * can be harmful to Infrastructure and Natural Resources * are essential commodities in Transportation * have negative health impacts * have hidden costs * are experiencing increases in price * are seriously impacting budgets Both And Both Require greater efficiency!

Sustainability through Winter Maintenance Best Practices * Why do we need to reduce salt use? *How can we do it? What are the tools for success? * How can we do it? What are the tools for success? * A Proposal to accelerate the learning curve!

Why do we need to reduce salt? * Because salt pricing has increased nearly 25% * Because salt has hidden costs that far exceed its purchase price and is compromising our ability to finance a sound transportation and is compromising our ability to finance a sound transportation system in Michigan system in Michigan * Current operating budgets are challenged

More importantly…how much will it cost this winter?

Trend line continues upward was 800,000 tons ,000

This number reflects only state roads. How much additional is used on County and City roads? 614, 991 Ton Average

“The corrosion and environmental costs pertinent to road salt add up to at least $469 per ton on average, and they are often ignored in formulating highway winter maintenance strategies.”

Conjecture based on Research by Xianming Shi, PhD. Western Transportation Institute, Montana State University research 10 year accrued accelerated depreciation—Nearly 1.2 Billion

OK…So what are these “Best Practices”? * Harnessing the talent that already exists in Michigan!!! * Good Plowing—The first line of defense for less chemicals * Operator training * Improved equipment calibration * Pre-wetting Salt---”Wetter is better” * The 30:70 Ratio of liquid to solid * Material placement—Put the salt where you need it! * Fine Gradation Salt—Does it have a place in our operations? * Evaluative Processes—How do we know what is best if we don’t test? if we don’t test? * Public Education—How can we teach personal responsibility? * What is the fate of anti-icing?

Michigan is capable of creating its own guidelines! While we could adopt this well done, but dated, handbook from Minnesota….

83 Michigan Counties and 100’s of Cities/Towns/Villages…. …. Innovative Thinking Agencies! …. Innovative Thinking Agencies!...Let’s Harness that Collective Power!

Good Plowing---The key to less Chemical Use! Dilution of Solution equals Re-Freeze! * How do plowing costs compare to chemicals? * Would it be cost effective to plow more often? * What new plowing options exist? * Weather forecasting--How reliable are the forecasts? What are we going to get--How much and at what time? What are we going to get--How much and at what time?

Spreader Calibration—Q.C. Procedures and Check Often * How are we sure spreading equipment is calibrated properly? * Once calibrated—how can we keep operators from changing your settings? your settings? * On-board systems with AVL/GPS that control material use. Where are we? Where are we? * How do we train operators to “Don’t shoot till you see the whites of their eyes”? of their eyes”?

Winter Maintenance Training A recent Salt Institute newsletter indicates that, “Above average ROI on your snow and ice control training”, can be realized by: * Reducing operational costs * Improving operational efficiency and effectiveness * Sharing proper knowledge and job skills * Improving morale and attitudes * Enhancing organizational and personnel safety * Mitigating tort liability * Enhancing a positive public and media image “Curtailing training is short sighted and likely to create problems that end up costing more investment in proper training.”, Salt Institute Who needs training? Everybody!

Pre-wetting Salt—”Wetter is Better” * Traditional methods have stressed 6-10 gallons per ton. 10 gallons/ton at 500#/LM equals 1 “shot glass” of liquid per 100 gallons/ton at 500#/LM equals 1 “shot glass” of liquid per 100 square feet. While this is superior over dry salt, many agencies square feet. While this is superior over dry salt, many agencies across North America are converting to higher liquid to solid ratios. across North America are converting to higher liquid to solid ratios. * Stockpile treatments are limited to the amount of liquid that can be held in the salt. This is typically less than 7 gallons that can be held in the salt. This is typically less than 7 gallons per ton with ASTM spec salt. per ton with ASTM spec salt. * New generation liquid additives for stockpile treatment are touting benefits. Have these claims been proven? touting benefits. Have these claims been proven? * Pre-wetted materials reduce bounce and scatter, create brine quicker, provide quicker levels of service, and reduce overall salt use. quicker, provide quicker levels of service, and reduce overall salt use.

What is the 30:70 Ratio? The 30:70 Ratio is a pre-wetting system that combines 30% liquid to 70% solids, by weight. Example: If the application rate was set 400#/Lane Mile then— Liquid = 120 pounds Solid = 280 pounds If sodium chloride brine used as the pre-wetting agent weighs approximately 10 pounds per gallon and has 2.3 pounds of salt per gallon then we are adding 23 pounds of salt to the solid salt. Total actual applied salt per lane mile = 303 pounds or 97 pounds less than the operator thinks.

What is the 30:70 Ratio? If a ton of salt costs $40.00/ton and the typical application rate is 400 pounds/lane mile (dry salt) then the material cost is $8.00/LM 400#/LM =.20 Tons/LM x $40.00/Ton = $8.00/LM If the same costs and application rates apply, the 30:70 ratio results in a material cost of $5.60/LM dry salt + $1.20 brine (12 gallons) for a total of $6.80/LM 280#/LM =.14 Tons/LM x $40.00/Ton = $5.60/LM + 120# or 12 gallons $.10 = $1.20/LM ($ $1.20 = $6.80) A $1.20/LM savings in material cost is realized. Assumptions: $40.00/Ton cost of Salt 400#/LM application rate 400#/LM application rate Salt brine $.10/gallon Salt brine $.10/gallon Note: these numbers do not reflect potential savings from bounce and scatter with highly pre-wetted salt.

Who is utilizing the 30:70 ratio, either through existing equipment or modifying existing equipment? Europe—ExtensivelyCanada U.S. States, but not exclusive: Maine New Hampshire Vermont MICHIGAN-Counties and Cities OhioIllinoisMinnesotaWisconsinIowaWashingtonUtah

What equipment is using the 30:70 Ratio? Any omission of other manufacturers product is unintentional Monroe’s New “Slurry” Spreader Epoke Sirius Spreader Schmidt Stratos Spreader Many agencies are modifying existing equipment to deliver higher liquid to solid ratios.

How important is Proper Material Placement? If we retain more of our road salt on the roadway we improve service levels and reduce salt and associated costs. How are we doing it? * High liquid to solid ratio * Agricultural additives to salt * Modified chutes and spreading disks * Centerline drop * Zero velocity spreading * Broadcast spreading with material placement capability * Multiple spinners

How can we better evaluate material placement? Test Grid Used in Demonstration Project with the Minnesota DOT June 2008 To know what’s best...we have to test!

How can we better evaluate material placement? Test Grid Layout in Owatonna, Minnesota—June 2008 Penalty Box Typical 12’ lane

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going? Back in the late 90’s Research was conducted on utilization of fine gradation salt by Tomas Martinelli, Wisconsin DOT. ASTM spec salt has been in place for many years. Distribution and storage seem to dictate gradation. Fine Gradation Salt in the Netherlands

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going? Could we anti-ice with fine gradation salt? Could we deice some events with fine gradation salt? Could fine gradation salt be a tool to reduce total salt use? How much of standard ASTM spec salt is lost?

Fine Gradation Salt—Where is it going? Typical ASTM salt Salt not passing thru ¼” hardware cloth Salt not passing thru 1/8” hardware cloth Salt passing thru ¼” hardware cloth

What is the fate of Anti-icing Anti-icing, while effective has its challenges: * Specialized equipment is required * Some chemicals can cause road slickness * Rain often precede snow events...materials washed away washed away * Anti-icing applications can be expensive unless sodium chloride brine is used sodium chloride brine is used * Some chemicals, directly applied, may be deleterious to infrastructure to infrastructure

Evaluative Processes Only through testing and verification should we advance that which is working! Through the collaboration of all entities within Michigan, we can drastically shorten the learning curve.

Public Education Educating the public is essential for advancing winter maintenance best practices and creates positive public relations. How can we teach the public that they must exercise a greater degree of personal responsibility? How can we convince the public there is “no such thing as a free lunch” when it comes to maintaining a sound Michigan transportation system?

Public Education The Public needs the facts!

A Proposal to Accelerate Michigan Leadership in Winter Maintenance Best Practices Illustration taken from Canadian TAC “Synthesis of Best Practices Road Salt Management” September 2003

Concluding Remarks Is it reasonable to think we could reduce salt use by 50% by 2020? There are no easy solutions to that question and solutions will require funding. Michiganian’s never back away from a challenge!! Our economic future is at stake in Michigan and we must step up to the plate in order to assure our future prosperity. Sound winter maintenance best practices are important to our survival. In a few years the rest of the country will be looking to us for winter maintenance guidance. We here in Michigan are LEADERS…not followers!!!

Thank you……..….QUESTIONS!!!!..….QUESTIONS!!!!

Internet links for presentation references: Larry Sutter, Ph.D., Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI—“The Deleterious Chemical Effects of Concentrated Deicing Solutions on Portland Cement Concrete”, Study SD _Final_Report_Final.pdf Transportation Association of Canada, “Synthesis of Best Practices, Road Salt Management Plans” Clear Roads, Pooled Funds Project CR , “Calibration Accuracy of Manual and Ground Speed Control Salters” Transportation Research Board, Thomas J. Martinelli, Robert R. Blackburn, “Anti-icing Operations with Pre- wetted Fine Gradation Salt” Midwest Snow and Ice Group The Use of Road Salts for Highway Winter Maintenance: An Asset Management Perspective ITE District 6 Annual Meeting. Kalispell, Montana. July 10-13, 2005 “Minnesota Snow and Ice Control, Field Handbook for Snow Plow Operators” Salt Institute, “Above average ROI on your snow and ice control training” Summer