MassHighway is always looking for new ways to maintain safe roadways while saving dollars. The latest example: crushing and grinding road de-icing mix that otherwise would have been discarded. The de-icing mix of salt and and calcium chloride hardens into unusable large chunks if not used quickly. MassHighway has purchased two portable screening/crushing units that will grind and reclaim the hardened mix for use on roads this next winter season.
The units cost $55,000 each but will save up to $255,000 in materials in the first year alone. This equipment will be a safe, environmentally friendly and economical answer to a long standing problem and its use will be expanded to include MassPike and DCR roadways that become part of the new MassDOT.
If my thinking is correct, the reason MHD has big chunks of salt is because the salt is being delivered with excess moisture contect! Test the loads for water(moisture) and REJECT them! Cost to MHD-$0
Option "B"-if the moisture content is out of tolerance and we accept he load anyways, the (moisture contect)overage should be applied as additional tonnage OWED-cost to MHD-UNKNOWN EXTRA tons of de-icing material....
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MassHighway responds: Thanks for the suggestions, Kathy. There are a couple of reasons for large "chunks" of salt along with excess moisture. MassHighway currently utilizes Pre-Mix which is part sodium chloride and part calcium chloride. If any material is left to over from winter large chunks can form.
The answer to the question is that we regularly use option "B". We test each load for moisture content. If the salt fails the moisture test, we keep the material and by contract the supplier replace with new salt. It too is tested!
We also have just purchased two new portable crushers to crush the large chunks and allow us to use the salt again.
Thanks for the inquiry.
Posted by: Kathy Stevens | September 21, 2009 at 08:19 AM