Bridge decks, especially overhangs and joints, are at great risk of incurring de-icer related damage. When evaluating design loads, overhangs exhibit the greatest levels of stress in the deck design. Overhangs also store snow pushed by plows. The snow pushed by plows is typically laced with de-icers, possibly saturating our high stress areas with corrosive chemicals. Steel under stress corrodes at an accelerated rate. So, storing snow on overhangs is not an ideal situation.

The damage begins when the snow melts and concentrates the corrosive forces in the de-icing agents in the overhangs.

Sweeping bridge decks at the end of the winter weather season is necessary to reduce leaching of de-icing agents throughout the summer months.