Low Temperatures Make Salt Less Effective On Roads

Road crews are battling to keep roadways clear with low temperatures making salt less effective.

Van Buren Highway Superintendent Randy Oakes said salt is used to lower the freezing temperature of water on streets, but temperatures dipping into the teens does not stop ice from forming.

“It doesn’t work really good,” Oakes said. “When the temperature gets below 20 degrees, it doesn’t work real good, but it helps as far as traction. The vehicles get traction using the salt, so it does help some.”

Oakes said using salt at this point is mainly to assist vehicles with braking. Salt is also more effective when snow falls on the road. Oakes said the snow insulates the salt and helps it increase the point of freezing.