Road crews prepare for big chill
By Hillary Gavan
hgavan@beloitdailynews.com
Weather expected to take big turn as travelers hit road for holiday
As the cold weather approaches, Beloiters may see some new equipment roving through the streets.
The Beloit Department of Public Works (DPW) is testing out a new spraying machine called the Epoke as well as a new polyurethane plastic blade, according to DPW Director Chris Walsh.
“We’ve had calls from people asking what’s going on,” Walsh said.
Walsh said the City of Beloit won the North American Snow and Ice Control Model City Award in 2009 for being so progressive in snow removal practices. The city was awarded use of the Epoke for a season. The machine’s Canadian manufacturer wanted to see if it saves communities’ money. If the machine is proved cost effective, the city may consider purchasing it in the future.
For the past week the DPW has been testing out its traditional spraying equipment as well as the Epoke. While the old sprayers leave roads with little white lines from a pre-spray, the Epoke covers the road in a white salt brine.
“The new one does a broadcast spray, so it wets the whole road,” she said.
Beloit’s existing machine is a 1,250-gallon tank that sits in the back of a plow truck. The new machine consists of gadgets on the plow trucks, which may be more dangerous for cars to attempt passing.
The Epoke can put salt and liquid down with use of a more computerized system. It also crushes the rock salt into smaller pieces as it lays it down, so it will theoretically cut down on salt usage.
However, Beloit is progressive with its use of snow removing technologies it may or may not save money.
“I think it would really help the communities that aren’t using the liquids. They would absolutely save money but we are already there, so I’m not sure how much it will save Beloit,” she said. “We do demonstrations all the time for companies and share our results.”
The city will continue to test the Wausau-Everest polyurethane plastic blade it was awarded in January. The heavy wet snow will theoretically slide off it easier than the traditional steel blades. It has already proven it saves on fuel expenses, but the DPW wants to test it more this December when the wettest and heaviest snow tends to fall. Walsh noted the steel blades are orange and the new test blade is blue.
The good news is there is plenty of salt for the city, with a remaining supply from 2008 and 2009. There is also an ample supply of beet juice. Because the chilly rain may turn to freezing rain or snow, the DPW has sprayed bridge decks in Beloit. It may spray some more salt brine right before Thanksgiving, depending on weather conditions.
The Stateline Area is preparing for the big chill as temperatures are going to go from a high of around 50 degrees today to the chill of the lower 30s by Thanksgiving day.
The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures of the lower 50s for today with a 40 percent chance of light rain. Low temperatures tonight will be in the will be in the high 20s or low 30s tonight with a chance of rain or snow.
Colder temperatures are expected Tuesday with high temperatures only in the upper 30s under partly sunny skies. There is a 20 percent chance of light rain showers and snow showers. Lows Tuesday night will be in the mid 20s with a 20 percent chance of snow showers through around midnight.
Wednesday will be partly sunny. Highs will be in the mid 30s under partly cloudy skies with lows Wednesday night around 30.
Thanksgiving Day will be partly cloudy with highs in the upper 20s. Low temperatures will be in the lower 20s or high teens.
Friday will remain cold with high temperatures in the high to mid 20s and lows at night near 20.
Saturday will remain brisk with high temperatures in the low 30s under mostly sunny skies. Lows will be in the low 20s at night.
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2010/11/22/news/local_news/news2204.txt
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