City has been pre-treating roads ahead of certain weather events for 15 years

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on November 29, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

With winter seemingly here to stay, the City of Medicine Hat shared a little more insight into how it keeps roads safe.

Since 2010, residents may have seen equipment treating roads prior to certain weather events with a calcium chloride brine, with corrosion inhibitors. This anti-icing material is used in collaboration with other control methods such as sanding and plowing.

It is applied before an expected storm to prevent ice or snow from bonding with the pavement. This approach makes plowing easier and more efficient in these locations. The brine is not used for melting any snow or ice that has already bonded to the road.

The technique is primarily used on hills, says the city, but has been used in the past on arterial roads and bridges to support the plowing activities. It may not always be used as the use depends on a series of factors, including the type of storm expected, the pavement and air temperature, humidity levels, existing pavement conditions and wind conditions.

The brine will be used only if conditions are just right.

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