Fargo Public Works Continues to Sweeten Its Winter Weather Arsenal.

Fargo Public Works Director Ben Dow is singing the praises of a salt brine mixed with sugarbeet molasses used on city streets to make travel safer.

 

 

 

 

Fargo Public Works Truck (KFGO News)

Fargo Public Works Director Ben Dow is singing the praises of a salt brine mixed with sugarbeet molasses used on city streets to make travel safer. Fargo started testing the mix in 2007 and has expanded use since then.

The salt/beet-juice mixture is sprayed on roadways prior to stormy weather and acts like teflon, keeping snow and ice from sticking to the pavement.

Dow says not only does the mix work. It also takes a smaller bite out of the budget.

He says its about a quarter of the cost of salt. The city will spend about $4,000 to treat 600 miles of city streets with the mixture prior to a weather event. That compares to $3,000 for one truckload of salt.

 

Don Haney

   

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