Bulk Road Salt: How Does Salt Lake City Salt Their Roads?

Each winter, Salt Lake City faces the challenge of keeping roads safe despite heavy snowfall and ice. Snow and ice buildup create hazardous conditions, requiring efficient winter maintenance. The Salt Lake City government said that the city’s team of 45 plow trucks and 90 Streets Division employees works around the clock to clear snow and ice within 36 hours after a storm. A major tool in this effort is bulk road salt, which plays an important role in de-icing operations across the Salt Lake Valley.

The Importance of Road Salt in Snow Removal

Salt is used globally to lower the freezing point of water, preventing ice from sticking to road surfaces. In Salt Lake City, this method is especially useful due to the city’s frequent snowfalls and fluctuating winter temperatures. When spread on roads, road salts dissolve into brine, which helps prevent ice from bonding to the surface. The Utah Department of Transportation reports that they use “regular white salt and three types of high-performance salt, de-slicking grit and volcanic cinders.” The city calls this "anti-icing," where roads are pre-treated with salt to prevent snow from bonding and reduce cleanup efforts, minimizing overall salt use.

How Bulk Road Salt is Applied

Salt Lake City uses large trucks equipped with spreaders to evenly distribute bulk road salt on roads. These trucks are calibrated to maintain the proper rate of salt application, which is important for minimizing environmental impact and ensuring safety. The city uses treated bulk road salt, such as Type C White, which contains magnesium chloride and anti-caking agents. These additives help the salt remain effective in temperatures as low as 0°F and prevent clogging in spreader equipment. Kilgore Landscape Center supplies this treated road salt, ideal for use on highways, main roads, and other high-traffic areas.

Where Does Salt Lake City Get Its Road Salt?

Salt Lake City sources its road salt from various suppliers to meet seasonal demands. Bulk salt is stored in strategically placed salt sheds across the city, keeping it dry and ready for use. Kilgore Landscape Center provides treated bulk salt which local government agencies, landscapers, and snow removal companies can use. This reliable salt keeps roadways safe during harsh weather.

Buying in bulk helps the city manage the costs of a long winter season. Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center and other suppliers also offer high-quality salt products for local residents and businesses, making it easy to access the materials needed for winter maintenance.

Type C Bulk Road Salt Features:

• For Asphalt Surfaces: Ideal for use on asphalt, providing reliable de-icing performance.
• Large Scale Operations: Perfect for large-scale snow removal efforts on roads, highways, and parking lots.
• Works Well in Larger Bed Salt Spreaders: Designed to be compatible with larger spreader equipment, ensuring efficient and even distribution.
• Effective Down to 0°F: Keeps roadways safe by melting ice even in extreme cold temperatures.
• Preferred by Professionals: Used by DOT, counties, cities, landscapers, and snow professionals for road safety during winter months.
• Treated with Magnesium Chloride: Enhances performance by lowering the freezing point, making it more effective in harsh winter conditions.
• Anti-Caking Agent (YPS): Helps prevent crusting and clogging in spreading machines, ensuring smooth application and extending shelf life.

Environmental Concerns and Responsible Salt Usage

While road salts are essential for safety, excessive use can affect the environment. Salt that washes off roads can seep into soil and waterways, potentially impacting plant life and aquatic ecosystems. Salt Lake City actively monitors its salt usage to minimize these impacts. By carefully calibrating the amount of salt applied, the city aims to keep roads safe while reducing the potential environmental effects.

The treated bulk road salt provided by Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center, for example, is designed to be more effective at lower temperatures, which can reduce the total quantity needed. Innovations in road salt production, such as adding anti-caking agents and magnesium chloride, allow Salt Lake City to use salt more efficiently. This means that smaller amounts of salt can achieve the same results, lowering the amount of material that runs off into surrounding areas.

Alternatives and Additional Snow Removal Measures

In addition to bulk road salt, Salt Lake City employs various methods to keep roads clear, including the use of plows and liquid de-icing agents. Plows are used to push accumulated snow off the roads, while salt trucks follow to apply salt to remaining patches of snow and ice. Liquid de-icers, sprayed in advance of a storm, are also gaining popularity. These solutions help prevent snow and ice from adhering to the road surface, making it easier to plow away.

Salt Lake City’s comprehensive approach to snow removal, which combines the use of bulk road salt, plowing, and pre-treatment, allows for adaptable and effective response to varying weather conditions. Using a combination of salt and plows helps crews manage severe snowstorms, keeping the roads as safe and clear as possible.

Meeting Winter Challenges with the Salt Lake Landscape Center

Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center, a trusted supplier in the Salt Lake region, provides local access to high-quality road salts and ice melt salt materials. Products like their Type C White Bulk Salt offer proven reliability for the city’s winter road maintenance, as well as for landscapers, contractors, and residents managing their own properties. The center’s supply of treated and standard road salts allows for a tailored solution, whether for high-traffic roadways or commercial parking lots.

Salt Lake City’s success in winter road maintenance relies not only on the use of bulk road salt but also on the cooperation of suppliers like Kilgore Landscape Center. This product is used by DOT, counties, cities, landscapers and snow professionals, as well as local businesses and households. Winter road maintenance in Utah is a necessary public safety function that relies heavily on careful planning, reliable materials, and efficient application methods. With quality road salt and support from local suppliers, Salt Lake City can keep its roads accessible and safe, even in the toughest winter weather.

Other Winter Products Available at Kilgore Landscape Center

Whether you are a homeowner, a landscaper, or a snow removal service, Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center has the right winter products for your needs.

1. Ice Melt Salt (Individual Bags or Bulk Pallets)

Kilgore Landscape Center also offers a range of other pet friendly and concrete safe ice melt salts specifically designed for driveways, walkways, and other high-traffic areas. These products, such as Purple Heat Ice Melt salt are perfect for smaller areas and offer immediate traction and melting power. 

2. Beach Sand/Play Sand

Beach sand or play landscaping sand are a great option for improving traction during winter. These sands, typically used in playgrounds and sandboxes, can also help winterize your property by providing added grip to slippery surfaces.

3. Decorative Landscaping Rocks

Xeriscaping using Kilgore Landscape Center’s decorative landscaping rocks maintains the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space year-round, including during the winter. These rocks are ideal for creating attractive pathways, garden beds, and rock gardens, which can remain functional and beautiful throughout the colder months. 

Stop in today at Kilgore Landscape Center