It is 7 a.m. and the sun has yet not risen. You get in your car to go to work, school, or just to have breakfast with a friend. An overnight snowfall along the lakeshore caused a new layer of snow to fall. This is not unusual in January. There is a sense of security that roads throughout Holland will be safe and clear for daily driving.
The Holland Street Department team has been hard at work for hours keeping motorists safe on the roads. The amount of salt, sand, and salt brine additive they use depends on several factors including temperature, snowfall and speed.
Salt is an essential component of keeping roads safe for motorists. The salt and snow melts when it rains. This water is washed into storm drains that lead to our local waterways. Being a waterfront community is an important part of being a good steward for our natural resources.
Cost is another important aspect of reducing salt use. Salt prices have increased over time, and salt is more expensive than salt.
Hollands Street Department staff should be constantly assessing how much salt they consume and staying up to date on the latest alternatives.
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Scott Boeve, the Street Maintenance Superintendent for the City of Holland, is very focused on controlling costs, safety and the environment. It’s a delicate balance and Boeve draws on his 25-years of experience and his team in order to make the best decisions possible for the community.
Boeve is responsible for the department’s fleet of seven salt trucks and five plows as well as a team comprising 22 employees. Boeve and his staff are always looking for ways of reducing salt usage. While this is important, it is also crucial to ensure safe roads for motorists.
The city uses a mix of salt and sand. The ratio will vary according to temperature. The more sand used, the colder the temperatures.
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Boost is a liquid additive that can be used in combination with salt. It contains calcium chloride and a corrosion inhibitor. This accelerates melting and lowers the freezing point. According to the Material Safety Data Sheet of Boost, the Street Department has determined that Boost is not dangerous to the environment.
Boost with salt gives better results than salt alone. Salt applied directly to ice tends to scatter, and can sometimes end up in ditches or along the sides of roads. Salt stays on roads where it is applied because the additive reduces salt’s bounce and spread.
The Department has reduced salt consumption by around 50 percent in the past 15 year. This is due to the Department’s learning about the best uses of the Boost additive.
Boeve stated that our drivers are committed to doing the best job possible for the citizens they serve. They take pride maintaining their routes. Safety is our top priority and we are always looking for ways that we can improve.
The Holland Street Department is keeping an eye on motorist safety while being a good steward of the environment and that is #MiSustainableHolland.
Marianne Manderfield serves as the public information coordinator for Holland.
About this series
The MiSustainable Holland column features community voices sharing updates about local sustainability projects.
This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme: Environmental Awareness/Action : Environmental education and integration of environmental practices into planning will improve our future and change the negative outcomes of the past.
