Spreading Equipment and Methods

MTO is committed to reducing the effects of salt on the environment. Our salt management plan ensures that salt is used efficiently and effectively, and requires all salt spreading trucks to be equipped with electronic salt management spreading controls. This technology helps to reduce waste and maximize the effectiveness of the materials used.
In addition to conventional salting, anti-icing is a strategy employed before a winter storm event to prevent black ice from forming and snow from bonding to the pavement surface. This is accomplished by applying winter road maintenance liquids directly to the road surface before the frost / black ice and winter storm. These liquids are also added to granular salt, to help it stick to the pavement and activate more quickly. This reduces the quantity needed and minimizes the impact on the environment.
The ministrys specifications for winter road maintenance liquids require them to be less corrosive than traditional road salt. Inhibitors added to the liquids reduce the corrosive effects on the vehicles and highway infrastructure that come into contact with them. This ministry is conducting field tests to determine the effectiveness of the corrosion reducing agents under field conditions.
New Initiatives and Technologies
Many new technologies and research initiatives were also demonstrated, including electronic patrol diaries, Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) devices, experimental plow blade designs, as well as various friction-measuring equipment.
MTO is always looking for new technologies, tools and methods to improve winter maintenance operations and the MTP project will help to ensure that our highways are as clear and safe as possible during inclement winter events.