Environment
Portland's Wintry Salt Dilemma
An unusually severe winter is forcing the city to reconsider its decades-long policy of shunning salt on icy roads.
Portland, Oregon, has a salt problem.
Historically, both the city and the state transportation departments have avoided using salt as the first line of defense against icy roads, citing a mix of environmental and financial concerns. But with unusually heavy snowfall in the Pacific Northwest this winter, frustrated residents are pressuring both agencies to break from decades of tradition for the sake of safety and economics.