I’ve lived in Colorado for 35 years. Before that I lived in Michigan. Michigan has long used salt as its main winter road hazard deterrent. It is useful but has hidden risks that soar into the millions of dollars in devaluation of vehicles and road infrastructures. Salt causes rust on all exposed steel parts of vehicles. This hastens the failure of braking and exhaust systems, steering components and numerous other critical working parts. It shortens the life of a car and decreases its value by as much as 30 percent over non-rust locations. When the Colorado Department of Transportation initiated the use of magnesium chloride, we were on the path to sensibility in road safety. Though it is corrosive, it is far less so than salt. Now with CDOT using salt on our roads, I believe we have seriously regressed in road hazard technology. I say put this to a vote in the next election cycle and see if citizens agree with this archaic decision.
Richard Dannelly,Lakewood
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