Project Background
The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, together with the Mitchell Center for Environmental Watershed Research and Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Public Administration of the University of Maine, has undertaken a project to examine risks and benefits associated with the use of road salts in Maine. The overall goal of the project is to develop among stakeholders a common understanding of the public policy issues and the relationships between funding, current research, levels of service, and risks associated with the use of road salts. The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) initiated the project in October 2008; it will conclude with the presentation of a final report in January 2010.
The project has an advisory committee that reflects federal, state and municipal agencies, and diverse interested groups. The advisory committee convened on March 4, 2009, and will have two subsequent meetings. In addition to providing guidance to the project, they assist in the formation of stakeholder groups, which meet this spring at three locations across the State. The committee is also identifying individuals throughout the State who have relevant concerns and knowledge; these individuals will be interviewed by the project team.
The project team is identifying and gathering background research in the following areas:
Chemicals. Properties of common de-icing chemicals – chemicals commonly used for winter road maintenance including sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, potassium acetate, and carbohydrate-based solutions. These properties include melting properties; effect on metals and concrete structures; and related cost, safety, and environmental impacts.
Best Practices. An examination of Best Practices for winter road maintenance including those published by the Strategic Highway Research Program and the Federal Highway Administration.
Environmental Consequences. State of knowledge of environmental effects of road de-icing chemicals in common usage and sand. This knowledge base includes the environmental effects on vegetation, groundwater, amphibians and other wildlife.
Anti-corrosives. Anti-corrosion coatings used in the auto industry, specifically hexavalent chromium, its regulation, and its newer substitutes.
Winter Road Maintenance. Background information about winter road maintenance practices:
In Maine. The winter road maintenance practices used in Maine, currently and historically. This includes amounts and costs over time of salt, sand, and other de-icing chemicals, research performed by MaineDOT in field trials, management policies and priorities.
Beyond Maine. The winter road maintenance practices in other states and in parts of Canada.
The project team is compiling the following data for quantitative analyses and limited modeling:
Vehicle miles traveled in Maine, by road type and season
Crash reports on roads maintained by MaineDOT
Fatality incidence in crashes
Weather data for Maine as measured by the compilation of a weather severity index. These indices will be used to draw correlation between weather and accident events
Inventory and condition of bridges throughout the State
Winter road maintenance practices, including past and current quantities and costs of sand, salts, and other chemicals
Cost of maintenance to bridges and roads
Costs to the State economy of lost work time due to weather delay
Interim reports and documents will be available on this website.
