Purchase of magnesium chloride to support winter road safety approved

Mesa County Commissioners approved a purchase order Jan. 27 to buy cold magnesium chloride for winter road maintenance, authorizing up to $75,000.

The material, commonly known as magnesium chloride, is used as a preventative anti-icing treatment during winter storms. Rather than melting snow after it accumulates, the product helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the roadway, making plowing more effective and improving safety for drivers.

The purchase will be made through a Colorado Department of Transportation contract that was competitively bid last fall. Mesa County is using a “piggyback” provision that allows local governments to take advantage of state pricing, reducing costs through shared purchasing power.

Magnesium chloride is applied primarily to bridges, steep hills, and high-traffic areas when weather and temperature conditions are right. It works best as a preventative measure when a snowstorm is expected and temperatures are above approximately 20 degrees.

“The goal is not to melt ice,” Mesa County Road Supervisor Matt Nichols explained during the public hearing. “It’s to break the bond between snow and the roadway so plows can remove it more efficiently.”

By preventing that bond from forming, crews can rely more on mechanical plowing and less on deicing chemicals, which helps stretch resources and reduce long-term costs.

Using magnesium chloride before or during certain storms can save money compared with traditional deicing methods. According to Nichols, one pound of magnesium chloride can be as effective as up to 10 pounds of salt in breaking the bond between snow and pavement.

That efficiency allows crews to clear roads faster and return conditions to normal sooner, particularly on priority routes.

Magnesium chloride is not applied in all winter conditions. It is ineffective during freezing rain events and does not work well when temperatures drop below about 20 degrees. In those cases, other winter maintenance methods are used.

“It’s one tool in our toolbox,” staff noted, emphasizing that treatment decisions are based on forecasts, temperature, and road conditions at the time of a storm.

Mesa County will purchase up to 62,500 gallons at $1.20 per gallon under CDOT’s Zone 14 pricing, with delivery scheduled within five calendar days as needed. The product will be stored at the county’s Coffman facility and used throughout the winter season.

Commissioners approved the purchase order unanimously following the public hearing