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“Road salt stored in and spread by a facility honored with a Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting award gives motorists the assurance of knowing the utmost care has been taken to protect public safety and the environment.” Lori Roman
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) February 05, 2015
The Salt Institute is honoring 63 transportation facilities across the United States and Canada with its Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting award recognizing environmental consciousness and effective management in the storage of winter road salt.
Clear winter roads protect lives and commerce. Every winter, more than 116,000 Americans are injured and over 1,300 killed as a result of pavement that is covered in snow, slush or ice, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, July 2, 2013 (http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/weather_events/snow_ice.htm). But studies of highways in Snow Belt states and in Canada by Marquette University, June 1, 1992 (http://www.trc.marquette.edu/publications/IceControl/ice-control-1992.pdf) showed that road salt reduces crashes by 88 to 93 percent.
When the direct and indirect impact of road shutdowns on the broader economy is factored in, road salt becomes even more valuable. According to the American Highway Users Alliance, February 24, 2014 (http://www.highways.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/economic-costs-of-snowstorms.pdf), a one-day major snowstorm can cost a state $300-$700 million in direct and indirect costs, lost commerce and productivity. In fact, deicing pays for itself within the first 25 minutes after the salt is spread—making proper salt storage and timely deicing a smart investment.
“These facilities have cleared a high bar,” said Salt Institute President Lori Roman. “For example, in minimizing salt runoff alone, 10 specific recommendations must be met.”
About 17 million tons of deicing salt is applied to roadways in the U.S. each year according to the U.S. Geological Survey, September 22, 2014 (http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/salt/mcs-2014-salt.pdf).Having enough road salt on hand before storms hit requires advance planning and facilities that provide safe and efficient storage. Winners must also display proper maintenance and good housekeeping practices.
“The familiar sight of trucks spreading salt on icy winter roads gives motorists reassurance, as it should,” said Roman. “If that salt was stored in and spread by a facility honored with a Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting award, motorists have the added assurance of knowing the utmost care has been taken to protect public safety and the environment.”
A complete list of winners follows.
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The Salt Institute is a North American based non-profit trade association dedicated to advancing the many benefits of salt, particularly to ensure winter roadway safety, quality water and healthy nutrition.
USA
Southington Highway Maintenance Facility, CT DOT, CT
Vernon Maintenance CT DOT, CT
Brook Street Pile Salt Shed #119 CT DOT, Wethersfield, CT
Farmington, #252 CT DOT, Farmington, CT
Glastonbury Maintenance Facility CT DOT, CT
NEW RECIPIENT Miller Avenue CT DOT, Meriden, CT
NEW RECIPIENT Middletown Facility CT DOT, Middletown, CT
Village of Lake in the Hills, IL
Lake Zurich Public Works, IL
Village of Mount Prospect PW, IL
Village of Hanover Park, IL
City of Geneva Dept. of Public Works, IL
Village of Buffalo Grove Public Works Department, IL
McHenry County Division of Transportation, Woodstock, IL
NEW RECIPIENT Village of Spring Grove, IL
Greensburg Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Linton Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Aurora Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Paoli Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Tipton Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Gary Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Bluffton Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Winchester Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Rensselaer Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Cambridge City Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Fort Wayne Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Chesterton Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Markle Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Michigan City Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Sullivan Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Westfield Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Albany Sub district IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Alexandria Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Dale Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
Wabash Maintenance Unit IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
NEW RECIPIENT Falls City Sub district IN DOT, Indianapolis, IN
NEW RECIPIENT Starke County Highway Department, Knox, IN
City of Olathe Salt Storage Facility, KS
NEW RECIPIENT City of Bloomington, MN
Town of North Salem Highway Dept., NY
Town of Orangetown Highway Dept., NY
Danielsville Stockpile - Northhampton County, PENN DOT, PA
Hope Road Stockpile #03, PENN DOT, Easton, PA
Newburg Stockpile - Northampton County, PENN DOT, Nazareth, PA
Pen Argyl Stockpile 07 PENN DOT, Easton, PA
Kittanning PENN DOT 10-10, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Kiski Stockpile Penn DOT, Apollo, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Crooked Creek Penn DOT, Ford City, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Worthington Stockpile Penn DOT, Worthington, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Cowansville Stockpile Penn DOT, Cowansville, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Snyderville Stockpile Penn DOT, Dayton, PA
NEW RECIPIENT Distant Stockpile Penn DOT, Distant, PA
City of Roanoke PW Salt Storage Facility, VA
CANADA
City of Brampton Williams Parkway Yard, Brampton, ON
City of Brampton Sandalwood Parkway Yard, Brampton, ON
Brunway Highway Operations Inc. District 1 St. Leonard, Hanwell, NB
Gateway Operations Hampton Depot, NB
Gateway Operations Musquash Depot, NB
Gateway Operations Waweig Depot, NB
Gateway Operations Springdale Depot, Penobsquis, NB
Brunway Highway Operations Inc. District 3 Meductic, Dow Settlement, NB
Brunway Highway Operations Inc. District 2 Centreville, NB