MoDOT warns road treatment loses effectiveness with extreme cold

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With the possibility of more winter weather and extremely cold temperatures, MoDOT officials are warning the salt treatment of the roads becomes less effective the colder it gets.

Jason Shafer, Central District Maintenance Engineer for MoDOT, said road crews will continue to be out Sunday night and Monday morning as needed.

He said the salt used to treat roads starts to lose its effectiveness starting at 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

"It just gets worse from there, and we are way below 25 degrees," Shafer said. "We're doing what we can but the science of it is, it's going to take us a lot of material to do very, very little."

Salt lowers the freezing point of water, and Shafer said that can only go so far. He said one pound of salt when it's 30 degrees will melt about 50 pounds of ice. When it's in the single digits temperature-wise, the melting ability for one pound goes down to about 3-5 pounds of ice.

"There's a profound difference with the colder it gets and the effectiveness of the salt," Shafer said.

The extreme cold also can take a toll on your car, Shafer saying the cold can cause issues with your fuel tank, among other things.

"Mechanical devices are not immune to the cold, so if your car breaks down with the temperatures we have, hypothermia can set in, frostbite can set in," Shafer said.

Officials warn to stay home if you can, but suggest drivers keep some essentials like food, water and blankets in your care in case you do get stuck.

Columbia Road Conditions

Columbia Public Works had a crew come in at 3 p.m. on Sunday to treat the roads during the light snow, and to prepare for Monday.

Spokeswoman Ashlyn Sherman said every winter weather event is different, and it will depend on how much snow comes in Sunday as to the treatment plan.

Sherman echoed that salt can lose some of it's effectiveness in the extreme cold, but the department will continue to use it.

"While it does have a lower effectiveness, it still can be beneficial in winter weather such as this," Sherman said.

She said the department is monitoring the winter weather conditions for Monday morning and will have more information on crew sizes as the system develops.

"If they do have to drive, especially a morning commute, just be aware of the forecast and the changing weather condition, things can change really fast," Sherman said. "Always drive with prudent winter weather caution and be aware."

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