Providence purchases new vehicles to combat winter weather

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Providence officials have been busy bolstering the city’s tools to fight winter weather despite the season being particularly tame so far this year.

The Providence Journal reports (https://bit.ly/1ZssVxR ) that Public Works Director Russell Knight said on Monday that the city has purchased three new trucks in addition to a sidewalk snowplow.

Knight said two six-wheel trucks have already been delivered and the 10-wheeler is expected next week. The vehicles will be fitted to deploy pre-wetted magnesium chloride instead of the traditional rock salt.

Officials say magnesium chloride has been found to melt ice quicker and is less damaging to concrete.

Knight said the vehicles will focus on removing ice and snow from main roads and secondary streets with a high priority as well as bridges and highway overpasses.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, https://www.providencejournal.com