Published: March 15, 2009 12:01 am      

Winter road treatments leave mess to clean up

The high cost of salt during the winter has led to more gravel on local roads and sidewalks as spring arrives.

In late 2008, with the price of salt more than doubling, municipalities and PennDOT were faced with a decision: How do we keep roadways safe without breaking the bank?

One solution was using “anti-skid” – a mixture of salt and small gravel. And using anti-skid did save money.

But when the salt dissolved, the gravel was left behind – making for a mess, said Darby Sprincz, director of public works for the city of Johnstown.

The fine gravel – spread to help with vehicle traction on icy streets – is now collecting at intersections, in stormwater catch basins and on sidewalks.

“There sure is a lot around,” Sprincz said.

“This winter was the first time we used gravel in 20 years. We got away from it because of the cleanup in the spring.”

The scene is played out in communities across the region, but is most prominent in the city.

Johnstown crews traditionally used about 3,000 tons of road salt each winter to keep motorists moving. But in 2008-09, Johnstown has used 1,200 tons of road salt mixed with 1,600 tons of anti-skid.

Because of the ensuing mess, city leaders have relaxed their enforcement of an ordinance prohibiting residents from sweeping or shoveling materials onto the streets.

“Property owners are responsible for the sidewalks,” Sprincz said, “and we’re going to waive the fines in the ordinance and ask them to sweep the anti-skid from the sidewalks into the streets.”

Sprincz asked that residents spread the gravel along the street – rather than pile it up – because that will make the work easier for city sweepers. Sprincz said a call to the public works department will bring out a sweeper for cleanup.

And what happens with all that gravel that state and local workers are gathering?

Unfortunately, it can’t be recycled for next winter, officials said. Generally, the grit is used as fill at construction projects.

Reusing the anti-skid is not an option because dirt and other debris is mixed in, Sprincz said. But the city does attempt to use it in other areas.

Somerset Borough used “a bit more” anti-skid this winter, Manager Ben Vinzani said, primarily because of the number of icy storms.

Somerset will use the gravel in construction projects, Vinzani said.

Carrolltown, another community faced with high salt prices, likewise used an anti-skid mix. But as a contracted street-sweeper prepares for April cleanup, the work should not be more challenging than in past years, said borough Manager Lonnie Batdorf.

Workers are removing the gravel in Jackson Township, where a gravel-salt mix means a lot of spring work, especially at intersections, said township Manager Dave Hirko.

“It seems so bad because the winter started in November and it seemed to go on so long,” Hirko said.

More anti-skid was used on Patton streets. Mayor Steve Bakajza said crews are waiting to make sure winter has passed before firing up the street sweeper.

PennDOT’s cleanup of state highways is already under way, said spokesman Steve Chizmar.

“We hope winter has pretty much trailed off,” he said, “but we do have crews out there cleaning up.”

Chizmar said attempts are being made to use the recovered anti-skid along highway berms and other areas.