Salting and Sanding

To keep our roads safe in the winter months, the City uses both sand and salt (sodium chloride) to help make winter travel safe for motorists and pedestrians throughout the City. What we use to keep the roads from being slippery depends on the temperature and the type of road.
Temperature and Type of Application
Temperature | Type of Application |
---|---|
Zero to minus 12 degrees Celsius | Road salt in the form of brine (salt/water solution) or rock salt is typically applied to achieve bare pavement conditions. |
Colder than minus 12 degrees Celsius | Sand is applied when temperatures are too cold for salt to be effective. |
Type of Road and Application
Local road information including Class number
Type of Road | Type of Application |
---|---|
Class 1-3: Main Arterial or Secondary Collector Routes |
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Class 4-6: Rural and Residential Roads |
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Impact of Road Salt on the Environment
The City's use of road salt is relatively low when compared to other jurisdictions in Ontario. The graph below shows the City uses about three times more sand than salt each year:
Citywide Total Salt and Sand Usage

The City mitigates the impact of road salt on the environment by minimizing its use of salt while still maintaining safe roads for motorists and pedestrians. This has been done through many efforts such as:
- Periodic review of industry best practices;
- Continuous education and training of City and Contract personnel;
- Periodic updating of the City's Salt Management Plan;
- Optimizing responses to winter weather events;
- Reducing the number of roads that received salt in accordance with the City's winter maintenance policy;
- Improving salt application equipment; and
- Increasing public awareness of how road salt is used in the City.