Salting Operations
The City has developed a Salt Management Protocol, to assist in providing the necessary servicing of roads, the reduction of salt usage and improved environmental protection.
Extremely low temperatures will limit the action of salt, as will the lack of sunshine and traffic. The City’s salt has been treated to work at lower temperatures to ensure that the best results are achieved within a desirable time period.
In dealing with icy or hazardous road conditions, the Public Works Department will conform to Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards.
Red, Blue and Green Routes
The Winter Maintenance Priority Road Snow Clearance Program, labels every city street as either a red, blue or green priority. This priority system is ranked much the same as the three categories of road, Arterials (major roads), Collectors (feeder roads) and Residential (residential streets). For example, it would be the priority of the City to have the higher traffic streets such as King George Road or Wayne Gretzky Parkway, cleared first before salting/plowing residential areas that do not experience the same amount of traffic. The level of service maintained on any one particular street will depend on its overall importance to the transportation system, as well as its particular role in facilitating access to motorists.
It is essential to concentrate a greater effort on streets that are vital to servicing a large proportion of the City's population.
Streets within the City of Brantford are separated into three priority classifications, which identify their importance to the snow clearing system.
However, it is still the mandate of the City to have city streets cleared within 36 hours of completion of a snowfall, regardless of road type.
The Public Works Department utilizes 11 salt truck, four vehicles are being utilized with on-board liquid applicators to date and all salt trucks operate with GPS systems and computerized salting applicators to assist in reducing salt usage.
The Works Department will be using a organic type of product in the Northwest Area to reduce potential damage to the perched fen. This product is more expensive compared to rock salt.
a) Priority I Streets - Red Routes
The objective with the red routes is always to achieve bare pavement within as short a time as reasonably possible in accordance with Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards. The city currently maintains 7 salt routes. The red routes are approximately 463.8 lane kilometres and take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.
Generally, Priority I streets include arterial streets, major collector streets, and those streets that are intended to carry a heavy volume of traffic and serve essential services (Fire Station, Hospital, etc.)
(Bridges and overpasses are included in the Priority I routes).
The primary function of these streets is to move large volumes of traffic from principal traffic origins to destination centres and to connect with provincial highways and county road networks.Also classified in this group are certain other streets required for the efficient routing of equipment and to provide access to essential services.Streets in this classification are maintained so that the road surfaces are as bare as possible through the efficient use of all available staff, equipment and materials.
Application rates for salting should not exceed 200 kg per 2-lane kilometre.
NOTE: It may be necessary to cover the red route system twice before proceeding into Priority II routes, depending on the continuation of the snowfall and its accumulation.
b) Priority II Streets - Blue Routes
Priority II streets include collector streets not designated as Priority I streets (based according to traffic volume), the balance of bus routes, industrial areas, school areas, and those streets required for the efficient routing of equipment. The objective with the Blue Routes is to maintain road surfaces in a safe condition for driving, in accordance with Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards.
In addition, the remainder of hills and curves are also included.
The city currently maintains 9 salt routes. The blue routes are approximately 358.6 lane kilometres and take approximately 4-5 hours to complete.The primary function for these streets is to link traffic flow from Priority I streets to Priority III streets.
Road surfaces are maintained in accordance with the Provincial Minimum MaintenanceStandards through the use of all available staff, equipment and materials.
The application of salt should not exceed 200 kg per 2-lane kilometre.
c) Priority III Streets - Green Routes
Priority III streets include all remaining streets that are not included as Priority I or Priority II streets. This generally consists of residential areas, and includes cul de sacs and dead end streets.
These streets do not generally carry large volumes of traffic. The city currently maintains 26 green routes. The green routes are approximately 370.7 lane kilometres and it takes 5-6 hours to complete.
The application of salt should not exceed 150 kg per 2-lane kilometre.
The objective with the green routes is to maintain safe road surfaces, in accordance with the Provincial Minimum Maintenance Standards. Blended salt and additives are used on hills, curves and at intersections.