Local News
La Crosse highway crews conscious of environment, practice salt conservation while keeping roads clear
Growing concerns over road salt impacts on waterways are not lost on La Crosse County’s highway crews.
County highway commissioner Ron Chamberlain says that’s something he definitely considers during winter months in determining best processes for keeping the roads clean.
“We are responsible for making sure there are good winter driving conditions,” Chamberlain said. “Also, we are good stewards of the environment and we want to minimize the amount of salt used for impacts to the environment. And, at the same time, minimize the amount of salt used for impacts to the budget.”
Scientists say road salt used in abundance, especially in the midwest, are raising the salinity of lakes and rivers and threatening ecosystems.
Chamberlain says his crews are testing a less impactful mineral this year that is more expensive but less harmful environmentally.
Chamberlain says the county uses roughly 4,000 tons of salt per year.