Document Summary

This document is the Solid Chemical Application Guidelines for an Effective Anti-icing Program, prepared by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The guidelines are adapted from the Manual of Practice for an Effective Anti-Icing Program originally developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, and the Corps of Engineers in 1996. The guidance applies to New Jersey's Winter Maintenance Program and establishes standardized practices for chemical application across the state's transportation infrastructure.

The guidelines provide operational protocols for solid chemical de-icing applications under various winter weather conditions, including light snow storms, moderate or heavy snow storms, frost or black ice events, freezing rain storms, and sleet storms. The guidance specifies recommended chemical spread rates measured in pounds per lane-mile, temperature ranges for application effectiveness, and maintenance procedures tailored to pavement surface conditions and ambient temperatures. Chemical application rates vary from 150 to 400 pounds per lane-mile depending on weather severity, pavement temperature, and precipitation intensity. The document emphasizes proactive chemical application ahead of traffic rush periods, continuous monitoring of pavement and precipitation conditions, and adjustments to application frequency and rates based on real-time conditions. Importantly, the guidelines recommend against chemical application below 15°F, with abrasives serving as the alternative traction enhancement method in extreme cold conditions.