Cities rushing to clear snow before freeze
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By The Associated Press
Monday, January 12, 2009 10:05 AM CST
WAUWATOSA — Plowing and salting crews are working to beat bitter cold that is set to sweep over Wisconsin in the coming days.
Wauwatosa Director of Public Works Bill Kappel said the problem is that road salt only works to about 20 degrees and there’s not much that can be done when it’s bitterly cold.
Crews can also use calcium chloride to make it corrosive to about zero degrees, but after that, little else works.
Many cities start using sand after that, which doesn’t melt the snow or ice but does provide better traction.
Budgets are another problem. Many cities have used up to two-thirds of their salt supply or more this winter.
Subzero temperatures are expected to move in this week, anywhere from 12-below in the Milwaukee area to 25-below or lower elsewhere.
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why? wrote on Jan 15, 2009 8:40 PM: