Should NH use brine on roads?

March 26, 2017

There is a debate in New Hampshire and other states about using liquefied road-clearing materials like brine instead of rock salt.

Brine works quicker and is more effective at preventing ice. Brine can therefore make roads safer.

However, brine also causes car rust and corrosion more quickly than road salt. According to an estimate from AAA, the use of brine costs U.S. drivers $3 billion annually. The damage to cars can also cause safety issues.

Other opponents of brine express concern about the impact brine has on the environment.

Should NH use brine on roads? Leave a comment below to join the discussion, and we'll present your thoughts to legislators considering this issue. Only comments from NH residents will be counted, so please indicate if you are from NH in your response.

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Comments

Deanna

March 27, 2017

When the city first started using the brine, it showed almost solid white lines, this worked it was strong. Now you can barely see the lines on the road when they put it out, and it doesn't work. If the city hadn't have watered it down it would work how they would want it too, but the whole thing is unnecessary. There was nothing wrong with salt and sand on the roads. It cut into ice development and allowed for gripping the road with sand and salt.
No matter how you look at it, there will be corrosion on the under carriage ove any vehicle. The problem is with the drivers of those vehicles on snow and ice covered roads. They are still in too much of a hurry to get to where they need to be, which will be there still when they arrive. They do not pay attention to their own driving, and some just do not know how to drive in snow and ice. If people would just drive with caution, no matter who they are and drive in a lower gear things would go smoothly. Sand and salt work the watered down brine is a waste of money.

Deanna

March 27, 2017

Sand and salt work the best. That's sand and salt together. The brine is a waste of money. If people weren't in such a hurry, drove in a lower gear and paid attention there would be less accidents.

Kevin

March 27, 2017

Salt applied as brine is more effective at preventing the formation of ice on roads than rock salt (Fitch, G M, Smith JA, Clarens AF. 2013. Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Winter Maintenance Treatments for Roadways. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING-ASCE 139(2):138-146.). It is also more efficient, using far less salt in total than a comparable application of rock salt. The vast excess of rock salt applied to our roads damages infrastructure, our vehicles, roadside plants, and water quality. Use of brine will require some changes of equipment and routine, but I think it's worth a try.

Should NH use brine on roads?

Comments

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