NYS Thruway Authority gearing up for winter weather conditions
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 20, 2012
With expected snow on the way, The New York State Thruway Authority is gearing up to fight winter weather conditions.
Along with employees working around the clock, thruway officials are using an anti-icing mix of sugar beet juice and brine on the roads before the snow comes.
They say in past years, the beet juice and brine mixture has proven to be an effective pre-treatment to prevent icing on the roads.
"The beet juice actually has chemical properties which reduces the freezing point and lower the freezing point of water. It also helps the grainier salt adhere to the roadway better keeping more salt on the road rather then scattering to the shoulders," said Pat Hoehn, the Acting Syracuse Division Director of the New York State Thruway.
Over the 2012-2013 winter season, thruway officials expect to use around 50,000 gallons of the beet brine mixture.
Along with employees working around the clock, thruway officials are using an anti-icing mix of sugar beet juice and brine on the roads before the snow comes.
They say in past years, the beet juice and brine mixture has proven to be an effective pre-treatment to prevent icing on the roads.
"The beet juice actually has chemical properties which reduces the freezing point and lower the freezing point of water. It also helps the grainier salt adhere to the roadway better keeping more salt on the road rather then scattering to the shoulders," said Pat Hoehn, the Acting Syracuse Division Director of the New York State Thruway.
Over the 2012-2013 winter season, thruway officials expect to use around 50,000 gallons of the beet brine mixture.
