Salting ruins gravel roads?

[SC Maintenance]

I wouldn't categorize the picture in the OP as much of a road. More or less a track graded through the mud. There is no slope or crown.

If it was an actual road, no need to salt - just scrape it down to where some / most of the gravel is actually showing and your back to traction. Not sure what to do with that hot mess. Lock the hubs?

Grew up on a gravel road. Operating a grader is an art form. Not many good operators around.

 

[dnewton3]

Isn't calcium chloride sometimes used for dust control on dirt and gravel roads too?

Yes. Magnesium chloride as well.

True to both. But that's typical of roads which don't often freeze (southern areas). Because if they did add salt-based products to control dust, those products will eventually have a residual build-up in the gravel which results in undesirable effects already discussed.

At times, oils (waste products) can be applied to control dust. Not so much petroleum oils, but waste veg oils, as they don't harm the surrounding area.

What's become popular in rural areas is that when there are long gravel roads with an occasional residence, they will pave short sections of road in front of the residence to control dust in the immediate area. You might drive 2 miles of gravel, then a hundred yards or so of pavement, then back to miles of gravel until you approach the next residence. This is generally only if the houses are right up near the road. If the house sits far back from the dust effect, the road isn't paved at the driveway.

 

[Hohn]

Salt ruins every road, I see no reason this would be different.