MANSFIELD, Ohio — This year’s winter for Richland County was not as severe as last winter, but it still left some damage behind. As the snow melts and the frost dissipates, potholes in the streets emerge.
According to Chief Deputy Engineer for Richland County Adam Gove, the streets are suffering — especially in the northern part of the county.
“The northern part has big problems. The roads weren’t built for that kind of traffic,” said Gove. But he also said keeping the roads cleared during the winter helps.
“Ice gets in and expands,” he explained. “And then in spring, the frost is coming out of the ground.” The expansion of the ice is what crumbles asphalt, resulting in potholes.
Richland County is currently under a contract with Detroit Salt Company. There are 18 out of 19 townships and six villages and cities participating in the contract. Last fall, Detroit Salt Company allotted 5,000 tons of road salt for the county’s participating entities.
Gove said the county asked for 20,000 tons of road salt, but Detroit Salt Company could not budge. The County Engineer’s Office, which operates in conjunction with the county’s highway department is accustomed to purchasing and using 7,000 to 8,000 tons. They only received 2,500 last winter season, leaving 2,500 for the other cities, townships and villages.
To compensate for the shortage of road salt, the county purchased a brine maker — a machine that makes a solution (known as brine) of road salt and water. The brine is used as a cost effective de-ice alternative. The machine can make a gallon of brine for nine cents, whereas road salt is around $80 per ton.
This summer, the county is participating in a summer fill-up program, one similar to Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) program. The program aims at getting in bids for road salt early in the year instead of waiting later. Gove said the price of road salt might be less than it will come winter.
“In the 2013-2014 winter season, Ohio used up a lot of salt, which made the price go up. The price fluctuates. This year it’s at $78.62 per ton. Last year is was around $38,” said Gove.
Gove encouraged community members to report potholes to the Highway Department at 419-774-5594. Until hot asphalt businesses reopen in the summer months, the potholes will be filled with “cold patch.”
“It’s asphalt material, just not as strong as hot mix. We have guys go out all the time to patch up the roads,” said Gove.
