Ontario, with its breathtaking landscapes and welcoming communities, experiences some of Canada's harshest winter weather. To keep the roads safe during the frigid months, road salt is a common sight on Ontario's highways and byways. While this widely used de-icer helps prevent accidents and keeps traffic flowing, it also raises important environmental and public health concerns. In this blog, we will explore the impact of road salt in Ontario, its benefits, drawbacks, and potential solutions to balance safety with sustainability.
The Role of Road Salt
Road salt, primarily sodium chloride (NaCl), is the go-to de-icing agent in Ontario and many other cold-climate regions. It's an effective and cost-efficient way to melt ice and snow on roads, ensuring safer driving conditions. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, preventing ice from forming and aiding in snow removal.
Benefits of Road Salt
1. Safety: The foremost benefit of road salt is its ability to reduce accidents caused by slippery road conditions. Treating roads with salt helps prevent traffic collisions and ensures the safe movement of people and goods, especially in harsh winter weather.
2. Accessibility: Road salt is readily available and relatively inexpensive, making it a practical choice for maintaining road safety on a large scale.
3. Road salt is highly effective at melting ice and snow, making it easier for snowplows and other road maintenance equipment to clear roads efficiently. The quicker removal of snow and ice helps maintain traffic flow, reduces congestion, and ensures that emergency services can reach those in need promptly.
4. Compared to some alternative de-icing methods, road salt is a cost-effective solution for winter road maintenance. It is readily available, easy to apply, and requires fewer resources and equipment, making it a practical choice for many municipalities and transportation authorities.
Draglam salt is one the leading suppliers of bulk and bagged rock salt in Ontario. We're the team that you can rely on for bulk salt, bagged salt, liquid de-icing products and more, no matter how severe the weather gets. We have multiple locations across Ontario and our Concord location is open 24/7 during the winter months. Stock up for the season as it is going to get snowy. We get you road salt when no one else can! Order today and even get it delivered to your place.