Edmonton Considers Bringing Back Calcium Chloride for Winter Road Maintenance

A person shovels after heavy snowfall in Edmonton on March 28, 2025. The Canadian Press/Jason FransonThe City of Edmonton is considering bringing back calcium chloride for snow and ice removal this winter, six years after the city stopped using the de-icing agent amid concerns about damage to vehicles, concrete, and infrastructure.A recent Edmonton City Council report on the city’s snow and ice control policy and program review lists calcium chloride system upgrades among proposed operational enhancements. The item is associated with $2.5 million in ongoing costs and $4.4 million in one-time costs.An attachment to the report notes council banned calcium chloride on Edmonton roadways in 2020. However, city administration is updating its understanding of best practices and environmental concerns surrounding the chemical, which remains polarizing despite widespread use in other Canadian cities.The attachment says that public perception of calcium chloride in Edmonton remains negative following a pilot run of the chemical during the winters between 2017 and 2020.Reintroducing its use would require sustained communication with the public to address concerns about the environment and damage to vehicles and property, the attachment says. Calcium chloride should not be considered a comprehensive solution to the city’s snow and ice conditions, but rather a tool available for specific temperature and precipitation conditions where other materials are less effective, it says.The attachment indicates that the city consulted with EPCOR to identify concerns about potential use of calcium chloride, and found that corrosion of transformers, switching cubicles, and other electrical assets located near roadways was a specific concern, it says.Calcium chloride works by lowering the freezing point of water. When spread on snow and ice, it forms a brine that melts ice and prevents it from refreezing, while also releasing heat that speeds up melting. It remains effective at lower temperatures than regular road salt but can be corrosive to vehicles and infrastructure.