MINSALT - A 5-YEAR STUDY TO MINIMIZE THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SALT

In 1985 the Swedish National Road Administration (SNRA), the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and the Swedish Road and Traffic Research Institute were commissioned to initiate a research program with the objective of reducing the negative effects of winter salting without detracting from traffic safety and trafficability. The program titled MINSALT has been running for 5 years and will be completed with a final report in June 1991. "Minsalt" was divided into three parts: (a) Extension of salt-free regions and roads; (b) New deicing methods; (c) New deicing strategies. The first part included major experiments in three different parts of Sweden. New deicing methods included studies of more effective salt spreading; and new deicing strategies included development of road weather information system and the use of de-icing or anti-icing measures at critical locations.