Winter road sand sometimes is recycled - June 22, 2004

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2004-07-13

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80 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, July 12, 2004   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery   SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion - Politics   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Prime Times   Wellness Connection   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Rogue Valley's Finest   EXTRA   Newspaper in Education   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad  eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities   Entertainment   Publications   Recreation   Calendar   CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit   Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend June 22, 2004 Since You Asked Winter road sand sometimes is recycled I recently traveled Highway 140 between Medford and Klamath Falls. While driving, I couldn’t help but notice the large amount of sand along the side of the road. The sand is from the snow treatment they do all winter. My question is what happens to the sand? Is it left there forever, or is there some reclamation process? — Ray S., Medford Ray, we took your gritty question directly to the keepers of the state highways — the Oregon Department of Transportation. District Manager John Vial said the answer to your reclamation query depends on the amount, condition and whereabouts of said sand. While the majority of the snowy sand is simply broomed off the highway, Vial says, it is sometimes recycled in certain high-mountain passes. Advertisement "Depending on the cost, location and how clean the sand is, it does sometimes make sense to pick it up, sift it out and reapply the sand," said Dial. But, he says, those three factors don’t factor out to reclamation too often. By far, the simpler savings solution is to sweep the sand to the side. Dial says the passes at Diamond Lake and the Siskiyous do not have recycled sand. "It just doesn’t make sense, financially," he said. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives  |  Site Map   E Southern Oregon  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback   ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times