ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The subzero temperatures and recent snow storms have reduced the city’s supply of road salt, forcing an emergency order of nearly $200,000 worth to resupply.
Rockford Public Works ordered more than 21,000 tons of salt in November, but concerns about a timely delivery required an emergency order from a Chicago supplier.
The new order will give the city an additional 2,000 tons.
Road salts work by lowering the freezing point of water, preventing ice from forming.
While road salts can make an icy drive a bit easier, they can also increase the potential for rust damage and the corrosion of brake and fuel lines.
AAA said the National Highway Traffic Association has issued safety advisories in the past linking road salt and de-icers to the corrosion of brake components that could eventually lead to brake failure, especially in older cars.
But after salts have been spread and built up on vehicles, drivers are advised to wash their cars and pay particular attention to the undercarriage of their vehicle, where road salts can build up.