Alaska gets a lot of snow every year and salt is an absolute necessity for snow removal. Sprinkling salt over snow is an age-old trick that helps to melt it quickly, making roads and driveways safe to navigate.

GMG General, paving contractors in Anchorage, AK, explains that the salt helps to lower the freezing point of the water, encouraging it to melt quickly. They have had customers ask how using salt for snow removal affects public roads year-round.

Water from the melted snow will sometimes leak into the road, especially if the asphalt is cracked. This creates a weak patch in the road, because the next time the pavement freezes, the water will expand. Winter’s endless thawing and freezing cycle, along with daily vehicle traffic, eventually causes a pothole to form.

Using road salt makes potholes a bigger problem because it lowers the freezing temperature of water. This extends the freezing and thawing process, causing the road to break apart and potholes to form quickly and more frequently.

Potholes can be a nuisance to drivers, as well as an eyesore. As a result of using road salt during winter conditions, these potholes affect our public roads in the warmer months until they’re patched up; they are responsible for $5 million in auto damages every year.

GMG General has been patching potholes and paving the way in Alaska since 1989. This Anchorage paving company provides a full range of services to help residential and commercial clients, including road construction and repair, snow removal, commercial landscaping, and driveway repairs. Visit their website to learn more about their paving services or call (907) 349-7854 to schedule an on-site evaluation and free quote.