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Salt is spread on roads and sidewalks to get rid of ice. It lowers the freezing temperature
of water, allowing the ice and snow to melt. With so much snow this winter, many places
are running out of salt. "We are right around 200 tons of salt every
year." Mark Aubol is the Streets Superintendent of
the City of Grand Forks. He is in charge of all road maintenance and snow clearing in
the winter. This includes spreading salt and sand.
[:31]>>Mark, "We do all of our roadways. I should say just our main roadways: Our four-lanes
and our, uh, a lot of the secondaries, our artillery streets."
The sand gives traction while the salt melts the ice. Grand Forks has been fortunate. Snowfall
is about average this year. "We haven't missed a beat with it. I can order
whenever I feel that we need it and within a week we'll get our order in."
Much of the east has not been so lucky. Salt mines in Hampton Corners, New York are working
around the clock to keep up with the demand. Several companies have sold out for the season.
Fortunately for buyers, the price of salt stays mostly fixed due to government bidding.
It may be hard to find, but at least it won't be expensive. This is Scott Wolff, reporting
for Studio One.