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PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL With Winter comes storms,and the City of Louisville winter driving safe in Louisville by observing these safety tips: Public Works Operations Division is ready.The • Leave early to give yourself enough travel time. Division has developed a Snow • Travel at a safe distance from sand tru cks and snow plows 161=1i11�� roximate Control Plan to keep the streets (apply 200 feet) at all times to avoid damage to � safe and accessible during periods g P your car. of ice and snow.The goal is to • Do not try to pass these vehicles when spreaders are provide snow and ice control services to the entire city operating. in keeping with the priorities outlined below. Priorities • Exercise extreme care and caution when driving in adverse are set according to traffic volumes,public safety, and and inclement weather.Your safety and the safet y of other access to emergency facilities and schools.The extent of motorists and pedestrians is the highest priority. the City's response to a storm depends on factors such • Be sure your car has adequate tires and they are in good as storm severity and duration. condition. PRIORITIES: Priority One Routes:Major arterials,arterial links, • Limit and restrict travel unless absolutely necessary during emergency facilities, downtown business loops,high severe storms. volume employers, steep slopes,and heavy drifting • Park off-street if possible. areas. • Do not attempt to stop a snow removal vehicle or Priority Two Routes: Primary internal collector obstruct its path. streets within residential and commercial areas connecting to arterial links and streets adjacent to CLEAR YOUR SIDEWALK schools. City residents are required to clear the sidewalks around their Priority Three Routes:Local streets within residential homes and businesses within 24 hours it and commercial areas. after a storm. The City appreciates , HOW CAN YOU HELP? the assistance that citizens provide ` in making this plan work effectively. In order to be effective, sand trucks and snow plows 10 may use two lanes to operate. Sand trucks have spinners When clearing snow from walks and which throw sand into both lanes. Please help make private drives,be sure to avoid creating an obstruction for traffic or pedestrians. MAGNESIUM CHLORID In 1994, the Regional Air Quality Council began requiring that all metro area government agencies help to reduce the amount of sand and salt used and increase the frequency of street sweeping where sand is applied. This is to help lower the amount of polluting particles emitted into the air in Front Range cities. Over the last five years,there has bee n an increase in the use of magnesium chloride (mag chloride) as a snow removal tool statewide. Mag chloride is a natural salt substance pumped from the Great Salt Lake with corrosion inhibitors added and mixed with water. It is water soluble and much le ss corrosive than salt. Mag chloride lowers the freezing point of water when applied as a"pre- treatment"on roads before a snowstorm. It slows the formation of ice and prevents snow pack S from building up and sticking to the roadways.The recommended application rate for mag chloride is 80 to 120 gallons per lane mile. When there is a snow storm forecast for Louisville,the Public Works Operations Division applies mag chloride at 80 to 90 gallons per mile. We are making an effort to use mag chloride instead of sand and salt on South Boulder Road and McCaslin Boulevard (the City's heaviest traveled arterial streets) to best decrease the impact of pollutants on the local environment. Unlike sand and salt, the mag chloride does not contribute to air pollution. By using mag chloride,there is little need for street sweeping after a snow storm,which in turn cuts down costs. If you have any questions regarding the use of mag chloride,please call the Public Works Operations Division at 303-666-0124. Winter 2000