2012 — CUMBERLAND — Nearly 40 percent of the salt put on Maryland state highways this past winter was scattered onto asphalt in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties, according to Kellie Boulware of the State Highway Administration.
However, those 30,698 tons of salt in those three counties and the 82,702 tons statewide was 68 percent below the five-year average usage of 261,000 tons.
Garrett County easily led the state in snowfall with 86 inches. Elsewhere, rain and sleet were the most common weather events that needed attention, according to Boulware.
The highway agency budgeted $36 million for winter operations, but spent $30.8 million. The five-year average expenditure is $68.5 million. The costs this past winter were the second lowest during the past 10 years.
Money remaining in the winter operational budget will be used for other maintenance such as safety and resurfacing.
Boulware said SHA takes a proactive approach to winter road operations, relying on latest weather forecasts. Several times this past winter predictions of one to four inches of snow resulted in rain or no precipitation.
Crews were called out not only in the Frederick area, but also in the Washington and Baltimore metro locales up to 15 times. Boulware said nearly all of the responses were at night or on weekends, resulting in overtime expenses.
“With little or no snowfall in some parts of Maryland, SHA construction crews were able to perform construction work that normally would not have progressed during the winter months,” Boulware said.
“For example, crews were able to pour concrete for bridge deck replacement projects. During a normal winter, this work could not occur because of low temperatures, therefore having a few warm weather days was a great benefit,” she said.
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