Goal was to reach bare pavement last year with various techniques. Calcium chloride provider Tiger Calcium is in the audience for chemistry questions 😏
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-new… #yegcc #yegtraffic
A corrosion inhibitor works by creating a film on the metal to protect it while the salt still melts the ice.
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"We have seen no significant and measurable impact to date." #yegcc
They've always been using some calcium chloride but both it and traditional salt increased last year in an attempt to get to bare pavement. #yegcc
So we know that's coming. Will council support it?
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So the damage people are seeing could be from regular salt, no? he asks. #yegcc
City officials say it's closer to 1.5 times more than some other high-snow years. Salt-use is higher but variable. #yegcc
City's Gord Cebryk says they don't know what salt is causing the damage for people but the goal is to reduce all salt across the board while still getting to bare pavement. #yegcc
Most cities using calcium chloride are using the same inhibitor that Edmonton used last winter, say officials. #yegcc
They had a bad audit on their sand recycling program a short while back, and now throw it out each winter.
That's one factor among others for reducing sand use, says city's Gord Cebryk. #yegcc
"What have we learned from Calgary?" Are their residents/industry partners as worried? #yegcc
The original intent was to seek bare pavement to get safer roads with less sand.
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City's Gord Cebryk says yes, there are limited options. They can plough as much as possible but you have to apply something #yegcc
Yes, it can contribute. It opens the door, says the chemist. #yegcc
But everything has pros and cons, she says. #yegcc
Yes, says the chemist, if you have an older car without the protective coatings. But this new inhibitor should protect everything. #yegcc
But that's it for the debate now. They're breaking for lunch and coming back for a vote later this afternoon. #yegcc
@MikeNickel2019 has his motion to cancel the project on the floor. Cancelling it means the city would have to find that $5 million in savings elsewhere. #yegcc
City says that's still unclear.
@AndrewKnack asks about increased sidewalk treatment around seniors centres. That's part of this pilot. #yegcc
City say that means no "in field" data locally. #yegcc
The city is addressing concerns by adopting the new corrosion inhibitor. He's frustrated research wasn't done earlier but it's being done now.
They asked for a safer, cleaner way of dealing with snow.
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People wondered why there was corrosion. City told them they used less sand. That doesn't answer the question.
The answer is that the city used much more salt. #yegcc
Says he doesn't know how to vote. There were too many unanswered questions and council is reduced to researching other city's practices on the fly. #yegcc
If they end the pilot today, status quo or major budget increases are the only options. #yegcc
"Snow is an ongoing pilot project," she said. They seem to never get a fix. She wants collision data, better evidence this time. #yegcc
That was downloading costs on drivers.
What this pilot project does is start to address the slips and falls, mobility for people who are't drivers. #yegcc
But if you go to Ottawa, people just carry wipes with vinegar to clean them off. It's just part of dealing with the weather.
"It would behove us to give this one more shot." #yegcc
He's gone back and forth, but has been more satisfied with city answers today. Says he'll support pilot, but wants clear FAQ for public. #yegcc
"I've been hit three times in this city from behind," says Iveson (aka back issues). #yegcc
"I'm right on the line," he says.
(Seems legitimately unsure how to move forward). "Right now we don't have the information."
He's for safety but there's no proof here. #yegcc
"Welcome to show business," says @doniveson.
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"I cannot afford your experiment any longer," he says to city officials. #yegcc
Council defeats a motion to cancel the calcium chloride and road salt pilot project, and then votes to extend it a year.
This is the vote on @MikeNickel2019's motion to cancel the project. #yegcc