Anti-icing and pre-wetting
How applying salt brine and spraying salt improves winter road safety.
Brine is a liquid and is created in a 23% concentration of rock salt to water. It is sprayed on the road surface before expected freezing temperatures. Drivers might see it appear as parallel lines on the road surface, even after the pavement has dried.
Anti-icing
The liquid brine starts to work before precipitation or dew can freeze the road surface. It works immediately as a barrier so that the precipitation doesn't stick to the road and slippery conditions are avoided. If there is no precipitation, the salt brine can stay active on the road for several days.
How the salt solution is made
Brine is inexpensive to make, can be made in-house, and is created using the correct concentration of water and salt. It works well in moderate temperatures, and one brine tank on a truck holds 7,000 L.
Anti-icing on Peel Regional roads normally takes place between October and April. Most of the liquid is applied in November and December. It works best at moderate temperatures. Brine is not as effective once temperatures become very cold.
We apply liquid salt brine on roads, bridges, higher curves, and bends in the road. It reduces the build-up of black ice, frost, and packed snow. We put this liquid on our bridges first because bridges freeze faster than roads.
Where the anti-icing solution is applied
We apply liquid salt brine on roads, bridges, higher curves and bends in the road. It reduces the build-up of black ice, frost and packed snow. We put this liquid on our bridges first because bridges freeze faster than roads.
Pre-wetting the salt helps it work more effectively in 2 ways:
- Wet salt clings to the road instead of bouncing off or being swept off by traffic. This results in less salt being spread, saving money, and minimizing the impact to the environment.
- Wetting the salt before spreading it onto the road helps to start the melting process. The moisture dissolves the salt, releasing heat that melts the ice and snow and breaks the ice-road bond.
The salt truck automatically mixes the dry salt with the liquid brine to create a sticky material that is sprayed onto the road surface. This prevents the salt from bouncing off to the side or into the ditch. The salt spreader is controlled electronically by the driver to ensure the best application.
Call 905-791-7800 for more information on salt pre-wetting technologies in your area.
