Oklahoma City testing more sustainable, less corrosive solution for treating icy roads

Oklahoma City is experimenting with a brand new method to deal with roads forward of potential wintry climate Tuesday.

Drivers within the metro might discover just a few bridges with a redder tint. That’s as a result of Oklahoma City’s Public Works Department is experimenting with beet juice to fight potential icy situations Tuesday.

According to a news launch, the division says beet juice is utilized in northern cities like Calgary, Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati.

So, what makes the beet juice solution completely different? Public Works Emergency Operations Manager Mike Love Jr. says rock salt wants temperatures above 15 levels and daylight to be efficient, however including a proportion of beet juice to the salt or brine combination brings the operational temperatures right down to minus 10 to minus 20 levels.

“Since this is the first time we are trying beets in our brine, we will start with a salt solution that has 5% beets,” Love stated. “Our goal is to streamline the City’s snow and ice program, so we can provide rapid and effective response to make our roadways safer during the winter season.”

Beet juice has the additional advantage of being less corrosive than salt, and it is biodegradable.

Oklahoma City has bought 2,000 gallons of beet juice for the pilot program.

Eleven bridges in OKC will probably be handled with the beet-laced brine solution.

• Exchange Avenue over the Oklahoma River
• Pennsylvania over the Oklahoma River
• Agnew Avenue over the Oklahoma River
• May Avenue over the Oklahoma River
• Portland Avenue over the Oklahoma River
• Meridian Avenue over the Oklahoma River
• MacArthur Boulevard over the North Canadian River
• Council Road over the North Canadian River
• Meridian Avenue over Airport Road
• MacArthur Boulevard over Airport Road
• Meridian Avenue over SW 54th Street

According to the National Weather Service in Norman, a powerful storm system will convey rain and snow to the realm Tuesday and Tuesday evening. Many areas will obtain an inch or more or snow, with some areas having the potential of 4 to six inches of snow.