New - Liquid Grit

[M21MFS]

Anyone else read about this last week?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12248481

Seemingly it'll work in even the worst of our winters, the usual drawback being cost though - TWELVE times that of the normal grit/salt mix

Stocks of a liquid that can tackle hard-packed snow and ice on roads at temperatures as low as -20C are to be used in Scotland.



The solution is being distributed after traditional salt and grit failed to keep key routes clear during the recent extreme weather.


Transport Minister Keith Brown said the liquid had been tested in Aberdeenshire and had shown "favourable results".


The project forms part of a new government winter transport plan.


The de-icer, which costs up to 12 times that of salt, will be used at strategic motorway locations only when temperatures fall below a certain level, a government spokeswoman said.



Its use will also be monitored to test if there is any environmental impact.


The new liquid, which is a variant of magnesium chloride, will be mixed with salt to boost its efficiency in temperatures below -7C.

 

[mrcinquecento]

it needs to be looked at in terms of how efficient it is compared to normal grit though

it may be 12x more expenisve but it could work out cheaper than using 20x more grit in conditions where it wont work properly

 

[lkc]

It's also reported to be more friendly to road surfaces so may be cheaper in the long run if the costs of keeping the roads clear and resurfacing them every year after the salt has damaged them are amalgamated. Disclaimer: as reported in the Press & Journal so may be fictional

 

[M21MFS]

Good points in both cases.

If it doesn't tear up the road, is more effective and generally helps with road safety in the shittiest of conditions then it's got to be a winner? Though I have no doubts tomorrows P&J letters page will be full of angry scribes from local pensioners about it being a 'waste of money'

 

[lkc]

Hell no, the pensioners round my way will be championing it but wondering why it's not being used on the pavements.

Throughout the recent bad weather our street had a visit from one of the mini snow plows clearing the pavements once a day and a large gritter at least every other day. It was more than some of the bus routes saw and I suspect it's down to the % of pensioners in my street. I would imagine the council cleared our cul-de-sac regularly just to shut them up lol

 

[ycming]

Mate even better that if it doesn't rust our car to ****!