SEATTLE — The Seattle Transportation Department admits it made a mistake with deicer that caused some accidents Dec. 2 and shut down the West Seattle Bridge.
Road maintenance manager Steve Pratt told a city council committee Tuesday they were trying to get ahead of anticipated freezing weather and Monday night football traffic when they sprayed magnesium chloride on the roadway that afternoon.
KIRO-FM reported it was too warm at the time — more than 40 degrees — and the operator mistakenly applied twice the recommend amount — 30 gallons per lane mile, instead of 15.
The result? Instead of preventing a slick roadway, the deicer created slippery pavement.
The department says the road crew will be trained to prevent making the same mistake again.
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Information from: KIRO-FM, http://mynorthwest.com/
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