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Dear Minister Fleming,
Re: Request for More Effective Winter Road Maintenance
I am writing to express my concern regarding the safety of British Columbia’s roads during the winter season and to suggest exploring alternative methods for safer travel. As someone who regularly commutes in winter, I am keenly aware of the hazards that icy roads pose to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. While I commend British Columbia’s ongoing road maintenance efforts, I believe there is an opportunity to improve both the safety and sustainability of our winter road practices.
I would like to advocate for the consideration of more innovative, effective anti-icing / de-icing products. Many municipalities across North America have begun using products such as corrosion inhibited liquid anti-icers to reduce corrosion to vehicles and infrastructure, plow maintenance and road scraping, and the associated costs and environmental impacts.
These methods have proven to be highly effective in diminishing snow and ice accumulation, which could lead to a decrease in the number of road accidents during winter months. Many cities in colder climates similar to British Columbia’s have successfully implemented these products, and they have shown to be both cost-effective and efficient in keeping roads as clear as possible.
I urge your Ministry to choose corrosion-inhibited liquid anti-icing products for road maintenance in our province.
Winter driving conditions will always present challenges, but by exploring anti-icing solutions, we can reduce risks and improve the well-being of our communities during these critical months. I appreciate your attention to this important matter and hope to see British Columbia Transportation take steps toward safer and environmentally beneficial road practices.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Name
City Name, British Columbia
Help Reduce the Risk of Accidents
Curb Traffic Delays & Obstructions
Avoid Windshield Rock Chips
Maximize the Value of your Tax Dollars
Safe for People, Pets, & Wildlife
Why Advocate for Liquid Anti-Icing?
Corrosion inhibited liquid anti-icing is a well-established solution that breaks the bond between snow and ice for faster, easier, and more effective winter road management. Used for anti-icing and pre-wetting applications, as well as de-icing when proactive measures aren’t an option, corrosion inhibited liquid anti-icing:
- Is up to 90% less corrosive than traditional rock salt to protect vehicles and infrastructure.
- Requires fewer chlorides and abrasives on the road.
- Reduces plow maintenance costs, road scraping, the wear caused by abrasives and plows, and the associated environmental impacts.
- Effective for liquid anti-icing down to -32°C.
- Is the safest product for the environment while being the easiest on roads.
The Key to Winter Road Safety
Harsh Canadian winters call for an anti-icing and de-icing solution that’s tough on snow but safe for pedestrians, vehicles, roads, infrastructure, and the environment. Corrosion inhibited liquid anti-icing is an industry-leading solution that’s available for use by provincial and municipal government agencies throughout Western Canada. With an established record of success and rigorous third-party testing, it’s been proven to keep snow and ice off roads longer—and to help reduce the risk of collisions and traffic delays.
Melt Snow & Ice Faster
Safeguard Roadways from Damage
Reduce Corrosion on Vehicles
A Rigorously-Tested & Proven Solution
Easier, Faster Road Application
Advocate for Safer Roads
Let your Minister of Transportation know you’d like to use a cost-effective and environmentally-beneficial solution to help ensure a safer commute, avoid traffic jams, reduce drive time, and cut down vehicle damage.
Case Study:
A major Alberta road maintenance company used a corrosion-inhibited liquid anti-icing product on a large highway maintenance project in Edmonton, Alberta, and it reported considerable savings. The product was used the past five winter seasons on Edmonton’s Northwest Anthony Henday Drive ring road project. During this time, the company reports they reduced the total chlorides used by two-thirds. They also saw a reduction in sand costs of approximately 25%, a reduction in salt costs of 25-30%, and a reduction in equipment hours of roughly 15%.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are liquid anti-icing products?
- Liquid anti-icing products are a multi-functional and adaptable chemical compound that have been proven to be an effective solution for preventing and clearing icy and/or snowy winter road conditions.
- As a result of its ability to depress the freezing point of water, calcium chloride is used as a core product component. Calcium chloride is more effective than traditional sodium chloride and can be applied at temperatures as low as -32°C (-26°F).
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How are anti-icing products used on roads?
- Proactive liquid anti-icing is a winter road maintenance practice that requires fewer chlorides and abrasives (such as sand and gravel) to achieve clear and safe roads efficiently and responsibly.
- Using liquid anti-icing reduces the amount of chlorides required and lowers application rates. This combined with the presence of an organic corrosion inhibitor works to reduce vehicle corrosion and infrastructure interaction, minimizing the risk of concrete/asphalt damage and environmental impacts.
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How does using a liquid anti-icing product benefit me?
- Liquid anti-icers reduce ice formation and prevent bonding between ice and pavement, allowing for easier plowing and snow removal. This allows for clearer, ice/snow-free roads—faster.
- It reduces the scraping of roads and the wear caused by abrasives and plows, lowers plowing and maintenance costs, and results in a smaller carbon footprint.
- Liquids stay on the road more effectively than solid materials; they also act as an adhesive for salt and sand/gravel. This ensures the product stays on the roadways, where it increases friction and overall effectiveness. Since both product application and plowing are required less frequently with liquid anti-icing, safer roads are achieved more quickly and at a lower overall cost.
- There is also a reduction in the total applied chlorides, which leads to reduced infrastructure and environmental impact and improved water quality.
- Liquid anti-icing lowers the amount of rock salt and sand that scatters off the road, requiring less of these materials to be applied and less cleanup after the season ends—further reducing costs. This also supports improved air quality and results in fewer abrasives collected in drainage infrastructure.
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How does using a liquid anti-icing product make roads safer?
- Liquid anti-icers reduce ice formation and prevent bonding between ice and pavement, allowing for easier plowing and snow removal. This achieves clearer, ice/snow-free roads much faster than without it.
- Liquids stay on the road more effectively than solid materials, and liquids act as an adhesive for salt and sand/gravel, keeping it on the roadways where it increases friction and effectiveness as needed.
- By reducing the amount of snow and ice on roads, and increasing the friction on a road surface, vehicle tires can better adhere to the road. This leads to less slipping and sliding, a reduced risk of losing control, and the improved ability to avoid any road hazards. Overall, it can help prevent collisions, which are a leading cause of injuries and fatalities, especially on highways.
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How does liquid anti-icing reduce corrosion on vehicles?
- Corrosion inhibitors can be added to liquid anti-icing brines to limit their corrosive effects. Corrosion-inhibited liquid calcium chloride products contain a highly effective organic corrosion inhibitor. Lab tests have shown that inhibited calcium chloride is up to 90% less corrosive than traditional rock salt (sodium chloride).
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How is anti-icing a responsible choice for the environment?
Certain liquid anti-icing products are recognized as being environmentally responsible and are not considered to be hazardous substances. These products:
- Are fully biodegradable.
- Are less toxic to aquatic life than oil, lignosulfonate and dish soap.
- Do not bio-accumulate or have the potential to contaminate the food chain.
- Are not a restricted material in transport.
- Have minimal impact on water, air, plants and wildlife.
- Require less sand and traditional salt to be used on roads, which benefits the environment and reduces spring cleanup costs.
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What is the difference between anti-icing and de-icing?
- Anti-icing is a proactive winter road solution that helps road maintenance operators take action ahead of a snow event for efficient snow removal. Anti-icing product is lightly sprayed onto roads as much as 48-72 hours ahead of a snow event to prevent the snow from sticking to the pavement. This reduces accumulation and ice formation and helps roads stay clear longer. It makes snow removal easier, reducing the need for additional plowing and sanding.
- De-icing involves applying the product after a snowfall, to melt snow and ice after it has accumulated.
