Clearing Montana's Roads

Most of us can't put our lives on hold when it snows. That's why the Montana Department of Transportation strives to make winter travel as safe as possible. Although many drivers have watched snowplows clear the roads, there are some important facts you should know about snow removal.

How does MDT prepare for the snow and ice season?

This winter, MDT will have approximately 900 trained maintenance personnel working to clear Montana's 25,000 lane miles of highway of ice, slush and snow. These employees will use a variety of winter maintenance vehicles including; snowplows, pre-wetters, spreaders, loaders and rotary snowplows. If a snow storm covers the entire state, the miles required to plow the whole system equates to 2 times around the earth and will be accomplished within 24 hours!

During the year maintenance personnel prepare for the snow season by stockpiling necessary supplies. In the fall, the same trucks that have been used during the summer for stockpiling, patching and other maintenance operations are equipped with snowplows. Employees also receive training to operate new equipment and safety procedures.

How does MDT decide which roads to clear first?

MDT considers these factors for clearing roads in the state highway system:
o Traffic volumes
o Accident reduction
o Availability of manpower and equipment resources

MDT applies magnesium chloride to roads in many areas before a storm arrives or in the early stages of a storm to prevent snow and ice pack (anti-icing). Once the anti-icing work is completed, MDT responds to winter storms as they occur and attempts to clear all roads as the snow continues to fall. However, in situations where a storm covers a large area, resources can be stretched beyond available limits. In these situations a system of priorities is followed to provide the best service.

Interstates and roads that have the highest volume of traffic are cleared first. Workers continue to clear roads with top priority placed on the most-traveled roads down to areas with lower volumes of traffic.

Some routes, because of concerns for public safety, high difficulty and cost of winter maintenance, may be closed for short durations until manpower and equipment resources are available for snow removal. 

Materials Used for Winter Maintenance
What is magnesium chloride?

Magnesium chloride is a salt compound extracted primarily from the Great Salt Lake, with added corrosion inhibitors, used to prevent or remove the build up of ice and snow on roads.

Magnesium chloride works like anti-freeze by lowering the freezing temperature of water and preventing ice from forming a strong bond to the road. It helps keep roads from becoming slick, improves safety and reduces accidents.

Facts About Magnesium Chloride
Why do workers spray liquid onto the roadways before a big storm arrives?

If you live in Montana, you've probably asked yourself that question. It may seem dangerous to add liquid to a road that might freeze, but that liquid can be your best friend when winter driving conditions are at their worst. That liquid, known as magnesium chloride solution, can prevent snow from sticking to the road and prevent frost or black ice. It's one of the newest weapons against icy roads. Thanks to magnesium chloride, winter driving can be a safer experience. The following commonly-asked questions and answers will help you learn more about magnesium chloride and the benefits it can offer motorists.

Is it safe?

Unlike sand, it won't crack your windshield or chip your car's paint. Tests have shown that the proper application of magnesium chloride produces no negative effects on ground water, surface water or vegetation.

"Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has completed a three-year study into the effects of magnesium chloride on the roadside environment and has found that the product does not significantly harm aquatic or plant life. In fact, the sand and salt mix used in the past can be more damaging to aquatic life -- with the large amounts of silt that wash into the streams -- and to plant life. Liquid de-icers or anti-icers are highly diluted in their usage and are even more diluted when they leave the roadway, mixing with melting water on the highway. The products are virtually undetectable within just a few feet of the roadway. The product does not add air pollutants to the environment and improves air quality by offsetting usage of sanding material. What's more, research into the use of liquid anti-icers and de-icers indicates that they have less negative impact on highway bridge decks, trees and vegetation, and water supply than any other method of winter road treatment utilized in the past. Liquid anti-icers and de-icers are the best products available for protecting many environmental resources."

Montana has not done a traffic safety benefit study, however, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), snow, ice and slush related accidents have also been drastically reduced statewide since the winter of 1995/1996 when CDOT began widely using liquid anti-icers and de-icers. Such reductions include a 76% reduction on I-70 west of Glenwood Springs in South Canyon, a 53% reduction on I-70 in the Vail area, a 89% reduction on SH 82 near Basalt, a 53% reduction on I-25 at the Mousetrap and a 64% reduction on I-70 at the Mousetrap.

How is magnesium chloride used?

Anti-icing: A light application of the liquid is made to a road before a storm to prevent a hard bond of ice, reduce snow buildup and speed snow and ice breakup after the storm.

De-icing: The liquid is applied to remove a thin layer of snow-pack or ice already on the road. It can be very effective for melting black ice and freezing rain.

Pre-wetting: Wetting traditional sanding material with magnesium chloride causes sand to stick to snow-pack better. Keeping sand on the road is nearly impossible in some circumstances, especially in very cold weather and in cases where there's traffic at highway speeds. Magnesium chloride can keep the sand from blowing to the shoulder of the road.

How does MDT determine when to use anti-icing and de-icing techniques?

A variety of factors are taken into account when deciding upon a course of action to treat winter roadways. Product application combinations are chosen after maintenance workers evaluate many factors including air temperature, pavement temperature, humidity levels, dew point temperatures, exposure to solar radiation, type and rate of precipitation, weather forecast, weather radar data, and satellite data. MDT monitors road conditions using infrared sensors, thermal mapping, and Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS).

Operational treatments are continuously evaluated by MDT before, during and after a winter weather storm. Road treatments and applications are modified through all phases of a storm based on careful analysis of intensity, duration and type of precipitation.

What can I do if I drive on roads where magnesium chloride is used?

Wash your car on a regular basis. Magnesium chloride (along with slush and dirt from the roads) can splash onto your car and build up after time, leaving a filmy residue on your car. Make car washing part of your regular maintenance routine, and you'll help keep residue from the winter roads off of your car.

As with any form of winter road treatment including sand or salt, liquid anti-icer and de-icer residue should be removed from vehicles with soap and water following winter weather storms. The products are no more damaging to the finish of vehicles than conventional sodium chloride-based products and will wash away with a good commercial car wash cleaning.

In making winter road conditions safer, the application of anti-icing and de-icing materials can create some road conditions that require particular attention on the part of motorists. Because liquid road treatments lower the freezing point of moisture on the road, travelers should be prepared for wet conditions. MDT recommends that motorists carry plenty of windshield wiper fluid in order to clear away any backsplash from the roadway, and are prepared to use their automobile's defrost system in the event that rising moisture may fog windows. Additionally, MDT reminds all drivers to obey posted speed limits with extra care on wet roads and to observe speed advisory plaques posted on curve warning signs. In fact, even the posted speed limit usually is too fast during adverse weather conditions. When liquid anti-icers and de-icers are applied, the road will be wet. Remember that when a highway is wet for any reason, traction is reduced and the chance of hydroplaning increases.

Why not use sand?

In many cases magnesium chloride works better by preventing or removing snow-pack and the need for sand. It keeps snow from firmly sticking to the pavement and helps ensure a faster return to bare pavement. Sand can be crushed by traffic and produce airborne dust, which contributes to pollution. Ten communities don't meet Federal Clean Air Act standards (6 more are at a "high risk") and must use anti-icing chemicals instead of sand. Because sand is easily blown off the road by traffic, it requires repeated applications. Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Montana joined together to develop standards for anti-icing products. Tests confirm the anti-icing chemicals in use on State highways produce no negative effects to water quality, vegetation, or wildlife.

Why does the sand product used by MDT include some larger debris more like gravel?

Sand and sand/salt mixtures are abrasives used to increase traction on slippery and icy roadways. Sand particles must be of significant size in order to provide effective amounts of traction. Additionally, finely ground sand would disperse into the air and contribute to pollution levels without providing sufficient coverage for traction. Current specification requires all crushed material to fit through a 3/8" opening. MDT is currently experimenting with dropping our specification to a 1/4" opening.

Economics of Winter Maintenance

What about the cost?

Magnesium chloride is usually the most cost-effective alternative when considering the whole picture. There are less expensive chemicals to use for snow and ice control, such as salt and non-corrosion inhibited calcium chloride. But those alternatives can be more harmful to vehicles, bridges and the environment.

Magnesium chloride is a good alternative because it is less corrosive and works better than other chemicals. It reduces environmental impact, bridge corrosion and vehicle damage.

In the last few years Idaho has worked with Montana, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia to develop higher standards for a de-icer. The goal among the five transportation regions is to use a de-icer that is appropriate for our environment and less corrosive than other alternatives.

At $.40 a gallon, the liquid anti-icers and de-icers used by MDT are the least expensive alternatives to sand and salt on the market. In addition to reducing the need for the less environmentally friendly sand/salt mixture, the application of liquids helps to reduce maintenance costs by lessening the need for plowing and after-storm sweeping.

Safety Considerations

Winter Driving Checklist

Motorists can help ensure a safer winter driving experience if they are prepared, alert and cautious.
o Keep your car's windows, mirrors and lights clear of snow and ice.
o Always wear your safety belt.
o Leave a few minutes early to allow extra time to get to your destination.
o Be aware of potentially icy areas such as shady spots and bridges.
o Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles and trucks that are plowing the road. Don't pass a snowplow or spreader unless it is absolutely necessary.
o Keep an emergency winter driving kit in your car. Use a plastic crate or a large, heavy canvas bag to store the following items in the trunk of your car: flashlights with extra batteries, first aid kit with a pocket knife, at least one blanket, extra set of mittens, socks and a wool cap, small sack of sand or cat litter for generating traction under the wheels, a small shovel, bottled water, booster cables and canned fruit, nuts and a non-electric can opener.
o A winter car kit helps ensure a driver's safety, but vehicles also need attention at the start of the winter season. The American Automobile Association advises drivers to prepare their vehicles for the winter season by having a mechanic check the following items: Battery, Belts and Antifreeze, Ignition system, Lights, Flashing hazard lights, Exhaust system, Heater, Brakes, Defroster and Oil level (if necessary, replace existing oil with a winter grade oil or the SAE 10w/30 weight variety).

Winter Checklist

1. Always keep the top half of your gas tank full. It can give you better traction and gives you a bigger margin of error if you get stuck and have to keep the engine running periodically to keep warm.


2. If you are stuck in a serious storm do not leave your car. Run the engine periodically and wait for help.


3. Carry blankets, water, a flashlight, a shovel, some nutrition bars or even candy bars for sustenance. Winterize your vehicle's safety kit by including extra blankets, sand to help gain traction in the event you become stuck on ice or snow, jumper cables, an ice scraper and lock de-icer.


4. Remember that 4-wheel drive does not mean 4-wheel stop. A 4-wheel drive vehicle will not stop any better on sheer ice than a 2-wheel drive vehicle.


5. Be sure of your route. Don't go exploring in the backcountry without some local knowledge, especially during a storm or when one is bearing down anywhere near your location. The weather can change quickly and violently in the Rocky Mountains and not necessarily only in the heart of winter.


6. Be sure you have good tires. All season radials on a front-wheel-drive passenger vehicle are adequate for most situations. Snow tires on most rear wheel drive vehicles are usually adequate. Chain restrictions in Montana are most often put into effect for commercial vehicles (semi-trailer trucks) and do not usually affect passenger vehicles.


7. In poor visibility or even whiteout conditions, don't drive faster than you can see ahead. High speeds in poor or no visibility can lead to large chain reaction accidents. Remember you can't see around mountain curves and corners either.


In addition to these winter driving tips, MDT reminds all motorists to respect winter weather, conduct a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle, leave extra space between your automobile and others on the road, and never drink and drive. Of course, always buckle up.

When Around Plows, Consider This;

1. They travel slowly, usually 25-30 miles per hour, so if you are behind one, you may be tempted to pass. Before you do, keep in mind these important facts: When driving behind a plow, you may easily see it ahead of you - after all it is a large truck - but the plow driver may not see you.


2. Snowplow drivers need to concentrate on their task and the road conditions in front of them, so they may not spot a vehicle trying to pass.


3. Some Snowplows are equipped with a "wing plow," an eight foot extension off the right side of the truck. It allows the operator to clear snow from the driving lane and shoulder at the same time. The wing plows are hard to see, so never, never pass a snowplow on the right.


4. Plows aren't just removing snow. They also spread sand or deicer on the road. Leave enough room between the plow and you to avoid having you car peppered with grit or sprayed with de-icer.

For more information on magnesium chloride or snow removal, contact John Blacker, MDT Maintenance Administrator 406-444-6158.

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