In an effort to dissipate misleading or conflicting information regarding sidewalk ice melting techniques, dust control, road base stabilization and full depth reclamation, and highway winter maintenance operations, a chemical company turned to the digital superhighway.

A new Web site has been recently launched to provide educational information to facility managers, road officials, civil engineers, and others who are responsible for keeping sidewalks and highways open and safe in winter and improving the safety and durability of roads.

The site is the creation of Occidental Chemical Corporation, a producer of calcium chloride, a specialty salt that is used in a diverse range of applications.

Greg MacDonnell, business manager for the company explained, "It was clear to us that misleading or conflicting information in the marketplace was making it difficult for users to confidently select and apply materials to achieve the best results," he stated.

Environmental claims surrounding deicers are an example of the types of misinformation the company identified in the marketplace. They noted that solid magnesium chloride is sometimes claimed to be less harmful to the environment than rock salt and calcium chloride. However, pound-for-pound comparisons do not take into account that solid magnesium chloride is 53 percent water by weight. That means the chloride in it is diluted compared to other chloride-based products. So a pound of magnesium chloride won't melt as much ice as the same amount of rock salt or calcium chloride. When more magnesium chloride is added to achieve equivalent ice melting potential, the amount of chloride introduced into the environment is about equal to sodium chloride and calcium chloride.

The new website draws on the findings of reputable independent research and published best practices sponsored by government agencies, including the National Forest Service, the Transportation Research Board, and Environment Canada, as well as major universities and prominent industry organizations. References to source materials are included throughout the site to enable users to confirm information and feel comfortable applying it in their own decision-making.

The Web site is divided into three micro-sites. IceFreeSidewalks.com is devoted to best practices for effective sidewalk ice melting. StableRoads.com details the benefits of dust control, road base stabilization and full depth reclamation. IceFreeRoads.com explains how prewetting rock salt and abrasive materials can improve highway winter maintenance operations.