Keeping roads safe for winter driving is a constant factor around the North Country every year, and there are opportunities to improve winter road maintenance practices used in this region. Two articles written in recent years in the Adirondack Explorer focused on snow and ice control. The first article highlighted factors to consider in determining which snow and ice control measures should be implemented, including features of the roads, weather conditions and relative traffic. The second article addressed methods of de-icing, comparing the use of various types of salts and the pre-wetting treatment of salts used on roadways to the application of abrasives, generally sand, to maintain safe and reliable roads throughout the winter. This article suggested that, while both kinds of treatment may have environmental impacts, the use of salt may be preferred over sand due to the cost savings of associated with reduced salt applications and the elimination of sand clean-up costs in the spring.

There is an effective, efficient and cost-saving approach to winter road maintenance that has been adopted by towns and counties in the North Country over the past several years — the anti-icing treatment that involves the application of a 23% salt solution, a brine, before a winter storm arrives. It is applied as a thin film that sticks to the road surface when used as indicated, then readily liquifies to start the snow/ice melting process. The brine can include different types of salts that influence the temperature at which the salt melts and reacts with the snow and ice. In addition, the film of salt on the roadway limits the bond formed between the snow and ice and the road surface, making snow removal easier when the snowplow comes around. Additives can be included that decrease the corrosive effect of the salt.

There are also important environmental considerations for the use of brine. Clearly, less salt is being applied to the roads, and the reduced salt use serves to limit possible damage to aquatic ecosystems, corrosion of infrastructure and impacts on drinking water sources like wells. Studies have shown that up to 30% of solid rock salt applied to roads is lost to the road edge through bounce during application, wind and traffic dispersion which increase the potential for the salt to harm the environment and is money lost on salt that won’t be working on the road. In addition to the use of brine, other new complementary strategies adopted include the use of segmented plow blades for better snow removal, pre-treated/pre-wetted salts, temperature measurements, GPS coordination to track salt application and calibrate spreading equipment on trucks, and then monitoring salt use and review performance on the roads.

The following provides a representative overview of the progress made in adopting brine treatment for winter roads in the North Country.

2015-16 — Town of Hague first adopted brine use, over time reporting up to 70% less salt use and a 50% reduction in annual winter maintenance budget.

2018 — The state Department of Transportation conducted pilot studies on state Route 86, Lake Placid to Wilmington, and state Route 9N, Lake George to Bolton, based on work of the NYS Strategic Working Group to Develop New Winter Road Maintenance Strategies to Reduce Impacts of Road Salt.

2020 — Warren County purchased a stationary brine-making machine and a mobile model to be shared by nine different highway departments.

2022 — AdkAction initiated the Clean Water, Safe Roads Partnership supporting numerous regional communities to assess and improve winter road maintenance practices to reduce road salt use through surveys, natural resource assessments, workshops and consultations on Sustainable Winter Management with WIT Advisors.

2022-23 — Town of Peru adopted the use of brine and saved $80,000, with a 50% salt use reduction.

2023 — Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force Report, based on the 2020 NYS Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act, recommended pre-treatment with brine to reduce overall salt use.

2023 — Washington County saved $300,000 and used 40% less salt with adoption of brine treatments on roads.

2024 — The state Department of Environmental Conservation updated its Water Quality Improvement Projects Grant (WQIP) to provide funding for implementation of road salt reduction best management practices, including salt storage, brine making equipment and storage, and segmented plow blades. These funds also support municipal use of GPS and other sensors to track application of anti-icers and deicers and road temperature.

State DEC Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning Grant (NPG) provided funding to help communities complete Winter Road Maintenance Plans that compile information on existing conditions, natural resources impacted by salt, and current salt practices, and plan for implementation of salt reduction practices. New York state funded $15 million for 39 projects in these two grants in 2024.

2025 — Applications for WQIP and NPG grants are currently under review, with announcements expected December 2025.

2025-26 — State DOT expanding brine applications regionally to state Routes 28/30 in Hamilton County, state Routes 9/9N/373 in Clinton County, along with eight other locations statewide.

2025-26 — AdkAction is actively working on significant funding to support the adoption of improved winter road maintenance practices for participants in the Clean Water, Safe Roads Network, including brine-making equipment, tanks and sprayers, segmented plows and measuring and monitoring equipment.

AdkAction will continue to encourage participation its Clean Water, Safe Roads Network and seek funds to support further adoption of improved winter road maintenance initiatives.

2026 — State DEC expects applications for the WQIP program to open for Round 22 in the Spring 2026; applications for Round 7 for the NPG grants are expected to open in May 2026.

The seasonal use of brine on roads in the North Country has been shown to be an effective, efficient and cost-saving part of winter road maintenance that provides safe roads for the driving public and helps the environment by significantly reducing the amount of road salt being used. With increased support and funding available to municipalities from governmental agencies and other organizations, it is now possible for more communities to consider adopting this road salt reduction best management practice.

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Ruth Smith is a board member for AdkAction. She lives in Saranac Lake.