NORWAY – Road Commissioner Ron Springer said he’s going to trade salt for magnesium in a couple of areas for winter icing purposes.

A report of road salt getting into a well on Greenwood Road prompted the decision by Springer, who told selectmen Thursday that other towns in Maine have been using magnesium with good success.

Linton Thompson of 173 Greenwood Road had told selectmen that salt has been showing up in his well from the winter program to melt ice.

Springer said he has had a conversation with one of the officials dealing with roads in Biddeford, who has been using magnesium on roads there for two years.

“He puts it out in a spray with no salt and says it’s environmentally friendly,” Springer said. “He likes the stuff.”

“We’re thinking of getting 1,000 gallons and using it with Paris in certain sections to see how it works,” he said.

Springer said he would use it on Greenwood Road near the Thompson residence.

“I’d be surprised if the board thought that this was a perfect solution, because it probably isn’t,” said Town Manager David Holt. “I would suspect at some point too much magnesium in a well is as bad as too much salt.”

In other business, Springer told selectmen that the bridge to be installed on Beal Street has not arrived yet. He said the bridge was due to arrive in the middle of August, which should be sometime this week.

Springer said the lack of the bridge was not holding up the project. High water in the Tannery Brook has prevented road crews from beginning work.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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