The City of Edmonton is revisiting the use of calcium chloride for winter road maintenance. This chemical helps to melt snow and ice, but its use was halted in 2020 due to concerns about environmental impact and vehicle corrosion.
Valerie Dacyk, the city’s snow and ice removal supervisor, mentioned that recommendations from various sources, including academia, industry, and environmental groups, have prompted the reconsideration of calcium chloride. Councilor Jon Morgan proposed reintroducing the chemical after a challenging winter season in Edmonton.
Edmonton is looking into the potential benefits of using calcium chloride once again, following Morgan’s suggestion. Other cities in Canada, such as Calgary, Toronto, and Saskatoon, continue to use this liquid compound in different ways, including pre-treating surfaces before snowfall, melting existing ice, and enhancing adhesion with salt or sand.
A recent report highlights the estimated costs of upgrading the system to support increased calcium chloride usage. The city is also reviewing possible changes related to snow and ice control, including a focus on event and winter festival support. Concerns were raised by events like the Deep Freeze winter festival due to unusual precipitation patterns in the city.
Dacyk emphasized the changing winter climate in Edmonton, with a decrease in overall winter precipitation but more frequent and volatile freeze-thaw cycles due to warmer trends. Discussions on enhancing accessibility in snow and ice clearing are set for August 31 at the city’s community and public services committee meeting, with further deliberations on the proposed changes scheduled for the November budget meetings.