NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has seen a 98% decrease in salt usage when compared to 2011, because of milder winter weather.
"Last year at this time, from November to February, we had used 10,000 tons of salt in Davidson and Williamson counties," said Deanna Lambert, community relations officer for TDOT. "This year, to compare, we have only used 200 tons of salt."
She continued, "You can definitely see what a different winter it has been."
Lambert said the reduction in salt usage translates in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings for the department and Tennessee taxpayers.
TDOT increased its winter weather budget by $1 million for the 2011/2012 winter weather season to $15.5 million. That came after two years of very harsh winters.
Ahead of this weekend's weather, TDOT treated roads in the northern part of Middle Tennessee.
"We have had crews out in the Clarksville area and the Gallatin area today, those higher elevations areas," Lambert said. "We have been putting brine out on the road to prevent any of this from sticking."
Others have noticed the difference in weather.
At the Vogely & Todd body shop, located at 427 Murfreesboro Pike, the shop has seen fewer collisions caused by winter weather.
"Rain has taken the place of the snow this year," Vogely & Todd manager Scott Hibbard said. "This year we have had a lot of collisions from rain."
Last February, the Vogely & Todd shop was filled with cars beat up and crushed from wrecks on icy roads.
Drivers are glad that this winter has had less frozen roads.
"I like this weather better. I really do," Vera South said. "I am real cold-natured, so I would rather have the warmer weather."
Rachel Zanoni felt different. Despite the travel headaches, she misses the frigid temperatures.
"I kind of liked that weather, like a real winter," she said. "Then, you get to have a real spring."
She also said the milder winter makes her nervous about the spring and summer weather.
"It makes me wonder if they are going to be real extreme too," she said. "It is just crazy weather."
TDOT plans to keep all of its leftover road salt from this winter and will use it next year.
Once again, that could save the department hundreds of thousands of dollars.
