Summary

This document is the Solid Chemical Application Guidelines for an Effective Anti-icing Program published by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The guidelines are based on the Manual of Practice for an Effective Anti-Icing Program prepared by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, and the Corps of Engineers in 1996. The document serves as a technical reference for winter maintenance operations conducted by the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Winter Maintenance Program.

The guidelines establish operational protocols for the application of solid chemical de-icing agents across five distinct weather event scenarios: light snow storms, moderate or heavy snow storms, frost or black ice conditions, freezing rain storms, and sleet storms. For each weather condition, the document specifies maintenance actions and chemical application rates (measured in pounds per lane-mile) based on pavement temperature ranges, precipitation intensity, and traffic conditions. Application rates vary significantly based on temperature and weather severity, ranging from 150 to 400 pounds per lane-mile for initial operations and 150 to 400 pounds per lane-mile for subsequent operations. The guidelines mandate pre-wetting solid chemicals at temperatures below 32°F and provide specific recommendations for timing applications relative to traffic patterns and precipitation events. Below 15°F, the guidelines recommend against chemical application, with abrasives substituted instead to enhance traction.