For the second consecutive year, both salt and sand will be used to make snowy and icy highways safer this winter, said state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelly Stowe.

"We will use salt again this year, although in some conditions we might have to use sand," she said.

Last year, state highway crews began using Chilean rock salt on icy roads as well as liquid calcium chloride, which goes by the trade name "Boost," as an ice inhibitor before freezing temperatures hit and for de-icing afterward.

The agency historically had used sand because of salt's corrosive effect on vehicles.

"Boost has a rust inhibitor, but motorists are encouraged to wash their vehicles after a snow or ice event," Stowe said.

"Our crews are good about how much they need. We hold daily conference calls on weather conditions. Our crews monitor that and know when to use it."

DOT prioritizes its roads by traffic volume, with most of the roads in central and eastern Clallam County being Condition 2 and those on the West End being Conditions 3 and 4.

Condition 1 roadways are the Hood Canal and Tacoma Narrows bridges.

Beginning Dec. 1 and running through March 15, DOT adds a night shift and swing shift to its daily shift operations.