Document Summary

This document is the Solid Chemical Application Guidelines for an Effective Anti-icing Program prepared by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Winter Maintenance Program. The guidelines were developed based on the Manual of Practice for an Effective Anti-icing Program created 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 state and local transportation agencies in New Jersey responsible for winter road maintenance operations.

The guidelines provide operational protocols for applying solid chemical de-icers across five distinct weather scenarios: light snow storms, moderate to heavy snow storms, frost or black ice conditions, freezing rain storms, and sleet storms. For each weather event, the document specifies recommended pavement temperatures, maintenance actions, and chemical spread rates (measured in pounds per lane-mile) for both initial operations and subsequent treatments. Chemical spread rates vary by weather condition and temperature range, typically ranging from 150 to 350 pounds per lane-mile. Key operational directives include pre-wetting solid chemicals before application in most conditions, plowing snow before chemical application to prevent excess accumulation, and adjusting chemical application rates based on pavement temperature, precipitation intensity, and traffic volume. The guidelines emphasize timing applications to prevent deterioration of pavement conditions and recommend applying chemicals ahead of traffic rush periods during storm events. Below 15°F, the guidelines do not recommend chemical application and suggest using abrasives instead to enhance traction.