Environmentally-Friendly Sugar Beet Molasses Adds to Bridge De-icing Arsenal in Frederick and Howard Counties

(November 23, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is using something a bit unorthodox to pre-treat some highways this winter season – sugar beet molasses.  As a pilot project, SHA will use sugar beet molasses mixed with salt brine on roadways in Frederick and Howard counties.  In addition to being environmentally-friendly, sugar beet molasses, known as Ice Bite, is not corrosive to salt spreaders, reduces salt scatter, and helps salt brine adhere to the pavement over a longer period.  The cost for sugar beet molasses is $2.17 per gallon. 

“Using renewable resources as part of our winter operations is not only good for the environment, but helps SHA continue to move in the direction of creating and maintaining a greener highway system,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen.  “We will evaluate the effectiveness of the new product and may expand its use in future winter seasons.”

SHA has more than 332,000 tons of salt for fiscal year 2009-2010 and eight salt brine machines in strategic locations across the State.  To tackle especially challenging snow levels in the rural parts of the State, the fleet includes nearly 80 “wing plows.”  This extra “wing” allows crews to move more snow in one pass, expediting snow removal and enhancing safety.  SHA added a salt brine machine to the Hagerstown Maintenance Facility in Washington County that will serve Western Maryland’s snow fighting capacity. 

Salt brine is widely used to pre-treat roads that are higher in elevation, such as bridges and overpasses.  Pre-treating these areas that freeze before the remainder of the highways enables SHA to get a head start on fighting winter storms.  Additionally, SHA will apply salt or pre-moistened salt in advance of sleet or freezing rain storms.  Pre-treatments are cost-effective because less salt will be required during actual precipitation. 

At today’s press conference, plow drivers and technical experts assembled at SHA’s Fairland Maintenance facility in Montgomery County to demonstrate the equipment and advanced technology used to combat winter weather.   During a winter storm, SHA personnel monitor a bank of more than 100 SHA-maintained roadway cameras throughout the State at the Statewide Operations Center (SOC) in Hanover, Maryland.  SHA also has access to additional regional camera networks in Maryland.  At this location, SHA will also monitor pavement temperatures, a key to effective and efficient re-deployment during winter storms.

When a winter weather emergency occurs, the SOC doubles as the Emergency Operations Center, the command center for winter storm operations.  From here operators monitor traffic, collect information from roadway sensors, and deploy equipment such as snow plows and salt trucks. 

Travelers can plan ahead before hitting the pavement by logging onto the cyber highway at www.roads.maryland.gov and clicking on “CHART”, which stands for the Coordinated Highway Action Response Team.  The CHART website offers a treasure trove of travel information, snow emergency plans, real-time traffic camera views, weather information, average travel speed maps and incident-related road closure reports.  Motorists can also call the Winter Storm Hotline at 1-800-327-3125 for winter weather road closures.

 
Additional Tips in the Event of Snow:

• If you do not need to drive while is it snowing, please do not.
• NEVER pass a snow plow.  If driving behind a snow plow or salt truck, provide plenty of space (at least 7-8 car lengths) behind the truck.
• Remember – bridges, ramps and overpasses freeze first. Use caution when driving across them.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles are just as vulnerable to slipping on ice as regular two-wheel drive vehicles.
• Pack a winter driving survival kit – including a shovel, blanket, water, jumper cables, flares, snacks and a flash light.
• Before taking to the road, log onto www. roads.maryland.gov, click on the CHART icon and view traffic cameras.
• Obtain a copy of the SHA “Winter Weather Brochure” and keep it in your glove compartment.  Brochures are available at Maryland welcome centers and SHA offices.
           
• Clear snow from your vehicle’s headlights, roof and from other places that may obstruct vision or become a danger to other motorists.
• When shoveling snow, please do not place it in the street/roadway.  Plow trucks push snow to the right.  When facing your driveway, pile snow to your left, off the road.  This reminder will save you additional hours of shoveling!

       More Tips to keep travelers safe all year long:

• Buckle up!  It’s the law and your number one defense in a crash.
• Check your vehicle’s lights, tires, windshield wipers and battery for proper operation.
• Slow down and pay attention, avoiding distractions such as cell-phone use.
• Observe all posted speed limits.
• Do not drink and drive!  Designate a driver in advance.
• In case of emergency, drivers with cellular phones can dial #77 to reach the Maryland State Police. 
• Wet road surfaces are not ideal and require alert driving attention.  Remember wet leaves can be as slippery as ice.
• Slow down, increase your distance between vehicles in front of you, avoid distractions and drive defensively.
• See and be seen.  Remember that Maryland State Law requires the use of headlights while windshield wipers are in use.
• Always buckle children and use proper safety seats.  For details log onto www.nhtsa.dot.gov or www.mdkiss.org. 

     
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