Good Question: Why Do We Use Less Sand On Roads?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Every winter, cities, counties and the state spend millions clearing our roads of snow and ice. Each method comes with costs and benefits, but crews have really cut back on abrasives. Over the past decade, there's been a move away from spreading sand to cut down on the slippery spots.
Most metro suburbs have done away with sand completely. In Minneapolis and St. Paul, though, crews will still use sand for problem areas like hills, corners, intersections and slick roads near schools when it's too cold to use salt. Those cities can't plow every road within a day of the snow, so they sometimes need to offer extra traction on snow-packed streets.
"When and where possible, we try to limit its use," said Joe Spah, the division manager for street maintenance with St. Paul's Department of Public Works.
Spah said St. Paul has used sand only a handful of times this winter. Each time happened during an especially cold stretch in November when it was too cold for the salt chemicals to melt the snow.
He said the costs of sweeping and cleaning up the sand in the spring are very high. One study found that even after clean-up, 50 percent to 90 percent of sand stays in the environment.
"We will actually go up and try to reclaim that sand and get it off the street before it goes into our sewers and waters," Spah said. "There's been an emphasis on reducing sand because it's been pollutant to our natural waters."
Another argument against the use of sand: It doesn't always stick around. Studies have shown that sand is swept off the road after as few as eight vehicle passes travelling at highway speeds. It sticks around city roads for longer.
Ultimately, road crews try to balance safety with environmental concerns and costs when determining how much sand to use on the roads.
"It isn't always that effective, but there's enough benefit overall that we still use it," said Mike Kennedy, director of winter operations for the Minneapolis Department of Public Works.