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Material conversions for winter parking lot and sidewalk maintenance

Contents

Material conversions

Salt - sand yard to ton conversions
Yards Sand (tons) Salt (tons)
1 1.4 1.1
2 2.8 2.2
3 4.2 3.2
4 5.6 4.3
5 7.0 6.4
6 8.4 6.5
7 9.8 7.6
8 11.2 8.6
9 12.6 9.7
10 14.0 10.8
11 15.4 11.9
12 16.8 13.0
13 18.2 14.0
14 19.6 15.1
15 21.0 16.2
16 22.4 17.3
17 23.8 18.4
18 25.2 19.4
19 26.6 20.5
20 28.0 21.6

The following formulas and the above quick reference table will help to convert between tons and cubic yards. Weights will vary depending upon moisture content.

  1. To convert tons of clean sand to cubic yards: # tons divided by 1.4 = cubic yards
  2. To convert cubic yards of clean sand to tons: # cubic yards multiplied by 1.4 = tons
  3. To convert tons of winter sand to cubic yards: # tons divided by 1.37 = cubic yards
  4. To convert cubic yards of winter sand to tons: # cubic yards multiplied by 1.37 = tons
  5. To convert tons of straight salt to cubic yards: # tons divided by 1.08 = cubic yards
  6. To convert cubic yards of straight salt to tons: # cubic yards multiplied by 1.08 = tons

Use these tables to convert application rates between pounds per lane mile and pounds per 1000 square feet.

Lane mile conversions

Conversion of pounds per lane mile to pounds per 1000 square feet
lbs./ lane mile lbs./1000 square feet
25 0.4
50 0.8
75 1.2
100 1.6
125 2.0
150 2.4
175 2.8
200 3.2
225 3.5
250 3.9
275 4.3
300 4.7
350 5.5
Conversion of pounds per 1000 square feet to pounds per lane mile
lbs./1000 square feet lbs./ lane mile
0.5 32
0.75 48
1 63
1.25 79
1.5 95
1.75 111
2 127
2.25 143
2.5 159
2.75 174
3 190
3.25 206
5 317

Common Conversions

  • 1 lane mile (12’ x5280 ft.) = 63360 square feet
  • Average size parking spot: 9 x 20 feet or 10 x 20 feet = 180 – 200 square feet
  • Driving isles (2-way) = About 25 feet wide
  • 1 acre = 43,560 square feet
  • 1 ton = 2000 lbs.
  • 1 cup of salt (NaCl) = 0.6 lbs.
  • Salt (NaCl) weighs 72 – 84 lbs./ft3 depending upon moisture and granule size
  • 1 gallon = 128 ounces
  • 1 cubic yard of salt = 1.1 ton
  • 1 cubic yard of sand = 1.4 tons
  • 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
  • 1 square yard = 9 square feet

Definitions

  • °C – degrees Celsius
  • °F – degrees Fahrenheit
  • brine – liquid deicer made from water and rock salt (NaCl)
  • lbs. – pounds
  • LTAP – Local Technical Assistance Program
  • mg/l – milligrams per liter
  • Mn/DOT – Minnesota Department of Transportation
  • MPCA – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  • mph – miles per hour
  • ppm – parts per million
  • psi – pounds per square inch
  • sq. ft. – square feet
     

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