A molasses-based substance, known as Ice Bite, is now part of the State Highway Administration’s plans to keep Maryland roadways free of snow and ice this winter. Ice Bite will be used in a pilot project in Frederick and Howard counties to test its effectiveness in pre-treating highways before spraying salt. Christopher Swan, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, has studied the impact of rising salt levels in streams – frequently attributed to heavy road salt application. Swan thinks “using the molasses-based product as a supplement to rock salt would probably help reduce the amount of salt that is getting into area streams.”
The article, “Md. to test molasses on wintry roads,” ran November 24 in the Baltimore Sun.
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