Posted on 01/21/2016 4:34:36 PM PST by Kaslin
For those living in the Washington, D.C-area, last night's commute home was a nightmare, as commuters in the District and the Northern Virginia area were stuck for hours on the roads. Last night's forecast only called for one inch of snow, but it wasn't the snow that caused the chaos - it was the icy conditions that arose due to the apparent lack of preparation from any municipal authority. It was something that D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser apologized for earlier today:
Yet, it still doesn't negate the fact that this is weak sauce. The area has been hit with bitterly cold days prior to last night's dusting, which meant that even an inch of snow was going to stick to the asphalt and create havoc. Virtually no roads were pretreated with salt. The District's Department of Transportation reportedly began treating the roads at 4 p.m. yesterday with beet juice:
Deployment for pretreating started at 4 pm per @DCDPW director.— DDOT DC (@DDOTDC) January 21, 2016
When it comes to deicing chemicals, the District has taken new steps to deice roads in both a more effective and environmentally friendly way. DDOT and the D.C. Department of Public Works have developed an organic deicing brine that mixes salt, water and beet juice, to replace the traditional application of straight rock salt.
The beet juice in the brine allows the mixture to adhere more effectively to the roads, and instead of being plowed away like salt or even traditional brine, the new brine will stick to the pavement for several days and continue melting snow and ice. This mixture "helps prevent ice and snow from bonding with the roadway and is less taxing on the city's environment, infrastructure, and budget than rock salt," according to DDOT.
Also, the biggest snowstorm in a century is heading towards the nation's capital, so this lackluster response is even more worrisome. How embarrassing is this ordeal? According to Waze, a navigation app, there were more than 1,000 fender benders reported. After hours of sitting in traffic without moving, many commuters simply abandoned their cars (via WaPo):
The detritus of the long commuting ordeal — scores of cars abandoned on and around the shoulders of highways — could complicate the drive to work for those unfortunate enough to have to make it.
It was Washington's familiar post-apocalypse look, minus the apocalypse, a bewildering sight to those accustomed to more frigid climes.
And the scene proved once again (though no proof was needed) that Washington, when taken by surprise, is woefully unprepared, not just for a blizzard but for any "snow event." It also showed how little it takes for the region to descend into a long night of traffic chaos: more than 1,000 reported fender-benders (unofficial numbers via Waze), six- and seven-hour trips home, jammed arteries and impassably frozen exit ramps.
Given what the Virginia State Police reported, that 1,000-car figure doesn't seem to be too far off.
#Virginia Troopers respond to 767 crashes & 392 calls for disabled vehicles Wednesday, majority in #NOVA. #winterstorm #DrivetoSaveLives— VA State Police (@VSPPIO) January 21, 2016
The only silver lining is that this light dusting hopefully shook some sense into the city. We're bracing for a blizzard that some say will be "one for the record books." A state of emergency will be declared tomorrow morning, and no parking tickets will be issued throughout the course of the emergency. For everyone in the eye of the storm, stay safe, warm, and be alert.
I will declare a snow emergency effective tomorrow morning at 9:30 am. Residents will need to move their cars from snow routes before then.— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 21, 2016
WOO HOO!!!! DC @MayorBowser said no one is getting parking tickets during snow emergency on Saturday. But still, obey the law.— Emily Miller (@EmilyMiller) January 21, 2016
She was compelled to give space to the snow to destroy.
Good thing Obama is not a Republican because then it would be his fault.
It will also stick to your car. Oh, yes...
I've been in DC during a snow "emergency", meaning that Congressmen and -women can't get to their favorite cocktail lounge on time. Seattle is the only other town I've ever lived in that goes catatonic at a skin of snow too thin to see. Abandoned cars, I kidjoo not.
The urban class wasn't always this hopeless. HERE is a gallery of New York's worst snow storms. By all reports the city is still there. THIS is Troy, NY in 1888. Now that's a lot of snow.
I am sure you did.
incompetent affirmative action idiots who know nothing.
-- snip --
When it comes to deicing chemicals, the District has taken new steps to deice roads in both a more effective and environmentally friendly way. DDOT and the D.C. Department of Public Works have developed an organic deicing brine that mixes salt, water and beet juice, to replace the traditional application of straight rock salt.
I don’t mind pickled beets, but as a vegetable? No way
Cold beets and a little vinegar.
Yum.
.
Is that a Baltimore picture?
.
Why can't this country see what is happening, or stop it?
Yeah, I'm thinking Detroit, New Orleans, Baltimore, Washington DC -- the city leadership all seem to be the same type of incompetent person who can't manage anything without destroying it. Especially if a "crisis" happens.
I guess Democrats is one term.
Beet juice and salt..uh huh.
That’ll work!!
NOT!!
LOL
Sheesh..
They ought to try a Maine winter on for size..
If they are this stupid before the the storm,’what are they gonna do..
Never mind
I just answered my own question!
Beet juice 20% / salt 80% mixture is used all over the midwest.
http://www.modot.org/Kansascity/winter_driving/sugarbeets.htm
I have two midwestern friends that like it, one hates it.
Does it really work?
I don’t think it’s been tried up here.
Here’s what I don’t understand: in the freezing point depression of salt dissolved in water (which is why salt keeps roads from icing up)the salt has to be DISSOLVED into the water. It’s not a catalyst. That means it is washed away as soon as the liquid runs off the road. So why does beet juice “cement” salt to the road? Makes no sense.
beet juice? PINK snow? DC is turning into a trans-city?
WDC is a trans city. Thee are many subhumans there. Possibly their population is proof of alien invasion.
I am so tired of the national news reporting on local weather problems. Does anyone care when Milwaukee has a couple inches of snow? No.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
