Why do we salt roads when it snows? UDOT shares the answer

Salting roads can help to lower the freezing point of water, and create a barrier between the road and snow. Photo: Unsplash // Clay Banks

UTAH — Ever wonder why the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) crews salt roads when it snows? If so, you’re in luck. Last week UDOT shared the answer along with a video of crews preparing a road for winter weather.

“Our crews will drop brine (a salt and water mixture) or salt on the road to cause something called freezing point depression, which lowers the freezing point of water. A salt layer also creates a barrier between the road and the snow and helps keep it from sticking to the road,” said a statement from UDOT.

Similar Reads On TownLift

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Utah DOT (@utahtransportation)