Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

highway-dept-salt-sand

Full Text:

Winter Anti-Slip Budget Slips

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Be careful. That same sand that prevented you from an accident on the roads

during last weekend's storm could cause one now that the roads are dry.

"It is ironic that the same sand that gives you traction from sleet and snow

becomes its own form of slippery road condition," explained Public Works

Director Fred Hurley.

The sand tends to concentrate in areas near stop signs and on downhill grade,

according to Mr Hurley. This is typical in the spring and the town will be

hiring contractual sweepers to clear the sand over the next few weeks.

So far this snow season, the highway department has put down 8,000 yards of

sand, which is about 90 percent of what it normally uses during the winter

months. The town allocated $90,000 in the budget for sand and has used

$80,000.

The highway crew has also put down 1,100 tons of salt, which is also about 90

percent of the usual load. The department spent $40,000 of the $60,000

budgeted for salt.

Although the amount of snow was way down this year, Mr Hurley said there were

still plenty of icy road conditions requiring the use of sand and salt. The

highway crew was sent out to either clear or sand the roads on 17 different

occasions, down from the average of 24 each season.

The town spent $58,000 in overtime for highway workers, well under the $80,000

allocated.