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This paper presents findings from a side-by-side operational comparison of granular road salt (RS) and MeltDown 20 (MD) deicing chemicals for snow and ice control from the perspective of "the maintenance worker in the truck." The field test site, near Canyon, Texas, was divided into sixteen 305 m (1,000 ft) sections that were either untreated controls or received treatment with RS or MD at nominal Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) application rates of 85 kg/lane km (300 lb/lane mile) and 42 kg/lane km (150 lb/lane mile), respectively. Three storms met pre-established criteria for snow accumulation, and field test sections were subject to cycles of plowing, deicing treatment, and slushing. Video and still-image data facilitated estimation of visible pavement, and vehicle-based decelerometer tests measured pavement friction. Overall results showed that granular RS outperformed MD in 5/20 data events (25%) and RS outperformed untreated control in 9/20 data events (45%). In contrast, MD never outperformed RS and outperformed control in only 5/20 data events (25%). Further, TxDOT maintenance management data indicate the operational cost to apply MD (corrosion-inhibited) is 3.5× higher than RS (noninhibited), raising questions about cost-effectiveness given the road, climate, and temperature conditions characteristic of the north Texas latitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from a side-by-side field comparison of the effectiveness of sodium chloride-based road salt brine (RSB) and magnesium chloride-based Meltdown Apex™ liquid (MDA) as anti-icing chemicals for snow and ice control associated with winter roadway maintenance. The study was sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to support operational decision-making for chemical treatment selections based on the perspective of pavement conditions observed by "the maintenance worker in the truck." The field test site was a portion of rural service road near Canyon, Texas, located at latitude 35° N. The site was divided into eight 305 m sections that were treated with RSB at 141 l/lane km, MDA at 47 l/lane km, or left untreated for control. Two storm events at the test site during Winter 2014–2015 met pre-established research criteria for snow accumulation and other variables. Test sections were subjected to cycles of plowing, slushing, and additional anti-icing liquid treatment. Digital video data and still image (photo) data were collected throughout the storm events to allow estimation of visible pavement, and vehicle-based decelerometer tests were used to measure pavement friction. Overall results from multiple performance measures indicated comparable effectiveness of RSB and MDA at the applied rates. It was also noted that application of MDA on dry pavement prior to the storm events significantly reduced the pavement friction. • This anti-icing field study compared road salt (RSB) vs. magnesium chloride (MDA). • Video, image, and decelerometer data offered consistent field performance measures. • RSB and MDA anti-icing liquids showed comparable field performance. • For Texas, inhibited MDA costs eight times more to apply than non-inhibited RSB. • Pre-snow applications of MDA reduced pavement surface friction (slicker surface). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]