Salted Roads? North Idaho (Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint: roofing, safety, air pollution)

[MySerendipity]

Can anyone tell me if the roads are salted when snowed on? Im wondering how the snow is delt with up in the Coeur d'Alene areas. Life of automobiles and driving safety.

Thanks.

[GhostInTheShell]

Originally Posted by MySerendipity

Can anyone tell me if the roads are salted when snowed on? Im wondering how the snow is delt with up in the Coeur d'Alene areas. Life of automobiles and driving safety.

Thanks.

Here's a thread you might find useful:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/idaho...e-winters.html

[DESERTRYDER]

Gravel Gravel and more Gravel.
It does work well for traction control on snow.
Then next spring when it's time to take out the motorcycles you have been rubbing on all winter... Gravel in the corners and poopoo happens

The gravel works well and it's the least harmfull to the enviroment .

[Trace_Rinaldi]

I think I would rather drive for conditions, and deal with some gravel than have salt all over the place. Doesnt it seep down into the water table?

[mistyriverranch]

I haven't seen gravel but lot's of sand.

[Sage of Sagle]

The City of Sandpoint's website says:

The Use Of De-Icing and Traction Agents
The EPA's and the City's concern for air pollution limit our use of sand. Although sand works great on snow and ice, after the snow season passes, cars and trucks kick sand residue into our air.
We will use crushed rock (anti-skid) materials at intersections to provide stopping/ starting traction.
A chemical de-icing agent, magnesium chloride, a naturally occurring mineral, is used on selected roadways-for example, the emergency routes-to control the formation of ice.


Reference: Welcome to the City of Sandpoint, Idaho


We like this stuff (at the bottom of the page):
http://www.fastgrass.net/snowremoval.html


And no, we don't have any interest in that business...I'm justing using their website when talking about the SNO-PLOW stuff...and it's not harmful to your car or the environment (USDA approved non-toxic). Note that it's a de-icer, not an anti-icing agent.



So...it's not the "rusted out" issue that used to happen with road salt...although ice left in your wheel wells and the slow melting process doesn't help. And of course modern vehicles have much better rust proofing that older vehicles...

[MySerendipity]

Thank You all for this information.

[mistyriverranch]

That's a good idea that Sandpoint has. Unfortunately, the county still plans on using sand, at least according to their website.

[Sage of Sagle]

Yeah...probably because sand is less costly for as many roads as Bonner County has to cover...

[Jenkins1301]

Most of idaho doesnt use salt the highway departments use a combination of de icer and a sand and gravel mix. lots of cracked windshields but it is better than all the rust you get when salt is used.