McCandless roads to get new treatment system this winter
Share this post:
A new anti-icing method in McCandless may help make roads more drivable this winter.
The pre-treat system involves using a 1,300-gallon tank filled with a precise brine solution. The tank is installed in a dump truck, and the solution is applied to the road surface before a storm, according to Jeff Schoeneman, public works director for McCandless.
“This allows for melting of minor snow and prevents the snow from adhering to the road surface during heavy snow events. This allows us to plow more efficiently with great results,” he said.
It will be used on main roads in McCandless when deemed appropriate. Crews will use salt and plow methods on side roads.
Schoeneman said the McCandless public works crews handle ice and snow removal for many state-owned roads in McCandless. And they perform winter maintenance on county roads as well. McCandless website states that the Public Works Department does winter plowing and snow control on 110 miles of town roads and 20 miles of state-owned roads located within the town.
Roads will be cleared to the bare pavement whenever possible on contracted state roads and town roads, according to town policy.
Entrances to local fire departments and the McCandless ambulance authority shall be salted, plowed or both on each snow and ice-control route.
Only after that’s done will private roads, which are listed as those not owned by the town and having two or more residences, get attention. They’ll be plowed whenever 6 or more inches of snow have accumulated. But those homeowners have to sign a form through McCandless to receive the service.
PennDOT District 11, in which McCandless is located, also uses the pre-treatment brine solution, but only when necessary.
District 11 crews will not pretreat with salt brine when a storm is forecast to start as rain, as the rain will wash the solution away, or if enough salt residue is left from previous storm applications.
“Brine solution is a useful tool for PennDOT when dealing with winter weather. While not a panacea, brine helps the department get an early jump on storms by not allowing precipitation to freeze on road surfaces immediately at the onset of winter weather. This gives our operators additional time to treat our roadways with salt and makes the roadways safer for motorists,” said Steve Cowan, spokesman for District 11.
PennDOT lists salt as its “primary weapon” for winter storms. PennDOT has 445 stockpiles around the state, according to a PennDOT 2022 Winter Services guide.
Franklin Park does not use the pretreat system, according to borough Manager Rege Ebner Jr. Neither does Marshall Township, according to its Manager Julie Bastianini.
Both use the traditional salt and plow method. Bradford Woods also uses traditional salting and plowing, said Erin Huber, manager.